The sound of cackling met Scorpius's ears. His head swiveled, but he couldn't see where he was. It was dark. Not a source of light anywhere. And the laughter came again. He looked around wildly, feeling like he was suspended in an endless night. Where was he? Where was Albus? He could see only the first half of his body- dressed in the clothes he'd gone to sleep in, but the darkness hid his feet. And it felt like he was standing on something cold- cold and hard and smooth. Like glass, perhaps.

Goosebumps trailed his skin, the hair on his neck standing on end as another sickening cackle sounded through the darkness. It wasn't cold, wherever he was. It was a comfortable temperature. But the night that stretched on did make him uncomfortable regardless.

"Hello?" Scorpius called out, his heart hammering against his chest, feeling like something was trying to claw its way out of his own skin. Where was he? He remembered falling asleep by Albus- was he dreaming? He pinched himself, not knowing what to expect. He felt the pinch, convincing him he was actually here- in this solid darkness.

With that rattling laugh echoing around him. "Who's there?" He may have felt fearful, but only because he didn't know where he was- how he had gotten here.

The boy blinked his eyes rapidly, like trying to clear the blackness. But it made no difference, it wasn't his eyes that were the problem. He extends his arms out in front of him, pale skin against the black. But they felt nothing but air.

He took some steps forward, walking and walking, waiting to see something else but didn't. And then there would be that laugh, a sickening laugh. Maybe the dream demon attacked them? Maybe he was in a coma?

How did he get here?

His legs slowed to a stop, and he whirled around. Black emptiness met him. In all directions- just blackness. And the thought of being trapped here forever seemed to seize him, gripped his heart. All for a few seconds until his eyes spotted something through the night. Something-or someone, walking towards him from a distance.

"Who are you, Salazar?" That same cackling voice asked, echoing around him like it was a cave. Was he in a cave and this was some kind of mind manipulation? He didn't recognize the voice. But slowly he recognized the girl who approached through the dark. Aries.

And his body reacted like he was looking at a monster. The hair along his bare arms turned to spikes, his breathing quickened, veins turning to ice. She resembled a spider. A spider who had been waiting for a long time for something to get caught in its web.

And Scorpius was the thing she caught.

Despite the terror, he spoke, taking a step towards her despite his instincts. "Aries? What's going on?" The girl didn't look normal. Her eye sockets were sunken in, her hair was a mess. Her makeup smeared across her face like she had been crying or been hit repeatedly. He stepped closer, concern now crossing his features as he noticed the rags she wore. His heart was so loud in his ears he could hardly hear his own words. "What happened? Are you okay?" Please say something, anything. And when he stepped up, close enough to see where her dark irises ended and her pupils began, her head jerked grotesquely- a crack he'd never heard before resonating in his ears.

He didn't understand how- or why- or what was going on. But he watched as the girl's body went limp and started falling. He went down to his knees at the same time, catching her. No! No stay with me!

He knew she was dead, saw her open lifeless eyes. Dark and dead and empty. Her body wasn't even warm in his arms. It was frail and cold, like she had been in this darkness for years. Shriveled up, her soul having been gone long before now.

And seeing her like that, it was like the floodgates to the emotion of pain was bursted open in his head. Agony ripped through him- what happened? What was happening? Come back! Don't die!

Desperate grey eyes scanning the broken neck- the crack still ringing in his ears. No no no! Ice took his heart, and then he heard screaming. Desperate screaming and sobbing.

It took him only a few seconds to realize it was him- himself who was screaming.

- the scene vanished, his eyes shot open. His heart was racing, hair stuck to his slick forehead. Skin clammy. He felt sick to his stomach, like he might vomit. Scorpius registered it was a nightmare the same moment he registered he was still in Albus's room. It was before daybreak. The sun barely shedding light outside. Everyone was still asleep, the house silent.

Other than him, jolting awake like someone had grabbed him. At the movement Albus shifted on the bed, but didn't wake from his slumber. A nightmare. That's it. He pressed his damp cold hands to his face, feeling nauseous. Scorpius slowly got out of the bed and left the room, finding the bathroom where he had showered before going to bed. The light flicked on inside, he closed the door behind him and slumped against it, the cold tile seeping into his sweats. He was shivering uncontrollably, the clamminess on his skin coupled with the cold floor.

He was almost thankful for it though- the shaking and trembling. Holding him into reality. Aries is fine, it's just a dream. The terror still held him, like he was still there- floating in darkness.

It's just a dream.

He repeated those words in his head, silent tears slipping down his cheeks.

It's just a nightmare.

It had felt like he was there. He was living it. Scorpius could feel the heaviness of his heart, like it was him who had killed her. Some kind of guilt he couldn't understand.

Aries is fine, it's just a dream.

What if it wasn't? What if he was seeing something else- a premonition? Or maybe somehow astral projection, watching her die? But surrounded with that night?

Scorpius was shaking, and he put his head between his knees, staring down at the tile and wishing for the nightmare to fade. It was so real.

He was there. He had been there. Unable to do anything. Useless.

It's just a dream.

Harsh efforts of swallowing the nausea lead to him keeping his dinner down from the pub. It wasn't a memory. And as much as he'd wished the memories would stop, now he'd rather see a memory when he closed his eyes instead of that. Instead of watching someone die. Someone he knew, cared about. Considered a friend. Needed to help protect. What if he saw Raven die next? Or Albus?

He hugs his arms into himself, hoping it will help with the body heat. Even though the house was warm he couldn't stop the chills.

It's just a dream.

——————————————————————

Scorpius was quiet as they returned to Hogwarts. Lily immediately took off to find her friends and Albus, James, and Rose departed. Something about a bet they had made at the pub. Scorpius tuned it all out, feeling cold since this morning. Tiredness seeping into his limbs and making them heavier. His feet lead him to the cut-off hallway, and he sat up on the stone, eyes particularly blue today instead of grey. Probably having to do with the fact they were on the verge of tears. Scorpius couldn't stop thinking about it.

He balled up his Black sweater sleeves into his palms. The turtleneck allowing him to tuck in his chin. Despite the snow melting away, only patches left here and there, this morning was freezing cold.

And the hallway was outside, leading to the inside of warm Hogwarts. Scorpius opened the Marauders Map, tapping the paper with the tip of his wand and watching the ink appear. His eyes scanned the castle, the names of students and teachers alike. Map showing their locations better than Find my Friends would. The boy nearly fell off the stonewall when he saw Aries's name. Relief he hadn't realized he needed flooding his senses. Like some part of him really expected she was dead- another person from his life gone.

The girl he told he'd help- get her out of her unbreakable vow. Even if that meant killing Selwyn. He hadn't failed, she hadn't died. She was fine.

Raven found him in the hallway two smokes in. "How'd it go at the Potter's?" She asked, having accidentally matched him today. All black clothes bringing out their sharp eyes and bright hair. The girl eased up to sit on the wall beside him, pulling her leg up to face him. Scorpius just nodded at her, as though to say it went fine, and lifted his cigarette back to his lips, eyes flicking back to the map in his hands. "Are you okay?"

"Peachy." Scorpius muttered, his voice sounding hoarse.

"You know you can tell me." Raven coaxed softly. But he couldn't. He didn't want to explain it; relive it. Every time he closed his eyes it was like he could feel that abyss of night slip on the corners of his mind. Waiting for him to sleep again and suffocate him with another death.

"I'll be okay. It's just a quiet day for me." Scorpius answers, feeling that pressure on his chest that said he was going to cry. He shoved it down, trying to focus on the names- just watch the map. Read the names. It'll be fine.

"Is it about coming out?" She curiously pushed for more. But he just looked at her, giving no indication he was going to answer. He'd said what she needed to know. It had nothing to do with coming out- but in a matter of a few hours everyone would know he and Albus were dating. News would spread either by James's mouth or Lily's. And he couldn't even find himself to care.

He felt like ice. Like the quiet and shadows and ice.

Raven pulled her bag off her shoulders and set it down, clearly making herself comfortable to stay and sit with him. "Well, I'm going to be here. In case you change your mind." And then there was silence. She struggled on homework, her brows furrowed as she leaned over a piece of paper, pencil in hand and furiously erasing things. Scorpius just looked at the map, watched it. Followed Albus's name and James. Aries's and where she stood with Daniel doing who-knows-what. The weight on his chest not lightening even a little bit.

Eyes always feel softly stinging, like he'd finally form tears and cry, even though he didn't. It warmed up a little, or perhaps the smoking was starting to work- Scorpius couldn't tell.

The happiness he had felt dancing in the kitchen, felt like a ghost of who he was now. Anxious, shaken. Sick. He'd had nightmares before, especially after his mother died. But they faded with time and never had been as real as this. Not that he could remember, at least. Scorpius just couldn't even feel like he could smile, or pretend. He was happy he didn't have to, even if Raven sat with him in the quiet. He may feel off from the night he had, but at least he wasn't alone.

Scorpius didn't tell Albus about the nightmare. Didn't really want to tell anyone until it faded and the negative emotions faded with it. It was crushing, to have that on a night when he'd been so happy. Like it was punishing him. Punishing him for being light, while everything was going on around him. The world writhing in chaos. Like it had to remind him what was at stake.

He knew he was overthinking it. It was just a nightmare. Probably from the accumulation of not enough sleep and never sleeping in that house before. Unknown place, little rest, it was bound to make a mind run wild.

After all, Aries wasn't actually dead. The dream was spooky, but it was just a dream. Plus, since when would he find himself in a situation of that nature? That kind of darkness? An abyss?

Exactly, he was being ridiculous.

Scorpius watched as the sun peeked from behind the clouds for a minute, warming the patches of snow. Then a cloud moves in front and hid it again. He pulls his phone out of his pocket, reading the text he'd gotten earlier.

Oliver: I miss you!

Scorpius just read it, feeling a little better just seeing those few words.

Scorpius: Don't be gross

Oliver: Don't be a dick

Scorpius: Whatever

Oliver: I haven't heard from you, are you okay?

Scorpius: Are you?

Oliver: I could be better.

Scorpius: Sorry I didn't call you sooner

Oliver: Don't worry about it, I've been busy anyways

Scorpius tapped his thumbs together, hovering over the keyboard. What was he supposed to say? Oliver sent him another message a minute later anyways, relieving him.

Oliver: How's school?

Scorpius: Tiring

Oliver: Are you sure you're okay?

Scorpius: Of course

That seemed to appease him, because Oliver started to catch Scorpius up on his life; moving away and helping out his Uncle with an antique shop he owns. Everything; all the little details that Muggles found interesting. For a second Scorpius just let himself get lost in those texts, trying to absorb the words and live them somehow. He didn't call him, just stuck to texting and Scorpius assumed it was because he was at Hogwarts. Or maybe because Oliver couldn't talk on the phone; maybe he was on the train or bus. Either way, the wizard was grateful, because it meant he didn't have to talk to anyone. Not physically.

It was exhausting today. So he'd take like Confucius, and keep silent as the dead. He almost got away with it too. Almost. But Ashton managed to find the twins in their hallway. Raven didn't even seem particularly happy to see him. Ashton approached like an injured puppy, tail between his legs. And he looked a little concerned about Scorpius being there as well, considering the glance he sent that way. The boy narrowed his eyes, trying to feel out the tension between Ashton and Raven. Maybe they got into an argument? He was ready to step in and break that vow of silence, if needed.

"Hey." Ashton greets Raven softly. He wore a khaki jacket, unbuttoned to show his yellow hufflepuff sweatshirt underneath. Curls in a mess on his head. "Can we talk?" Raven looked back at her notebook, like she'd rather do homework than talk to him. That's not a good sign. She shrugged nonchalantly, if she was upset she definitely wasn't showing it. That was her pride.

"I have nothing to say." She replies, voice neutral and devoid of emotion. Ashton looks at her, and then to Scorpius. But the blonde just raised his smoke to his mouth, not giving any indication he was going to get involved.

"Raven, I said I'm sorry." Ashton gently pushes, standing a healthy six feet away. Either because he didn't want to be hit or because the near proximity might anger her. She stopped writing but didn't look up at him.

"You lied to me. Saying sorry only goes so far." Her voice may be controlled and even, but the pitch was a little off. Ashton looked like he might cry right there, so he turns away and walks away from them. Just then, Raven looked over to watch him leave.

"What happened?" Scorpius asked her once he was out of earshot. Perhaps he could help Raven instead of focusing on his own issues. His sister shook her head.

"He told me he was somewhere but I tracked his ass and found out he wasn't." Her answer was clipped and he knew that wasn't the full story. But she probably wasn't looking for his analysis of the issue, so he didn't push for details. "I gave him the opportunity to tell me the truth before I actually told him I tracked him. And he didn't take that opportunity. He made his bed. He's going to lie in it."

"You're punishing yourself as much as your punishing him."

"You'd do the same thing, brother." Raven argues. And then Scorpius thinks about it. Would he? He didn't know the entire story but just based on what she'd given him yeah, he probably would've. So he locked his jaw and said nothing. Just watched as she went back to her homework, avoiding her issues in the same manner he did. Maybe that behavior was bred from growing up in the Malfoy Manor- Draco seemed to exhibit it too. Diving into his work when something bad happened. None of them being taught effective coping mechanisms to function.

No wonder they were all so screwed up.

—-
Scorpius leaned against the cold stone, a few paces away from where a few students stood around in a small group. The druggie corner. The smell of pot wafted in the air. Scorpius stayed upwind of it, not a huge fan of the sweet pungent smell. But no one would look for him here. On the outskirts of this group. None of them even spared him a glance, too absorbed in their conversation and group. He and Raven had split up around lunch, when she decided to get tutoring help from Christine.

So he found himself here, sitting with his legs crossed slightly, back pressed against the castle. A cool spring breeze whisking past him. He thought perhaps that he'd get the rest of the day for peace and quiet but he was wrong.

He figured no one would look for him here and so did she. Which is how she found him. Aries approached, and looked down at where he was, stopping only a few feet away. Finally she drew attention from the stoner group- which gave her concerned glances. "I've been looking for you."

"I know. I've been watching." Scorpius holds the Marauders Map up in his hand. Aries snorts, of course he had.

"Why are you here?"

"Because people wouldn't look for me here. Unless it's you, apparently." Despite the words he wasn't entirely upset at her arrival.

"I figured you didn't want to be found, and it wasn't hard to narrow down where you'd be after that."

"Very cunning of you."

"Why are you so mopey?" Aries held a tone of disappointment, like she wanted the fun Scorpius. The carefree Scorpius. The one that flew over the Thames.

"Are you asking because you care?"

"Come on Sal. I wouldn't ask if I didn't care. You're obviously in a mood. Same as your sister. I saw her on the way to the library."

"Good for you." Scorpius mutters, dragging another puff from the smoke. Aries snatches it from his hands, and he reaches to stop her but she was too quick. "Hey!"

"Nope. No more smoking." Aries drops the cigarette bud and grinds her wedged boots into it, snuffing it out instantly. He threw all the anger he could into a glare. "Get up, this is just pitiful." She orders, taking a step back and waiting. He doesn't move. "Get up Sal." Gosh, he was surrounded by bossy people. But he did, standing up and crossing arms over his chest, facing the black-haired girl at eye-level. She gave him a once over and nodded. "Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"It's more fun if you don't know."

The Forbidden forest. That's where. She led him right through the trees. And he started to look at them with less terror and more familiarity. After all their lessons in these woods, it was starting to feel like a routine. But Aries didn't stop at their normal clearing- and she walked deeper, towards the lake. They were silent, and Aries seemed to be looking for something. And then they came into view, same as they did that day he and Albus went to Diagon Alley. Thestrals. Horse-like animals. With skeletal looking faces and thin bodies. The beasts that can only be seen by those who've seen death.

And Aries clearly had considering she walked right up to one and gave it's long snout a light stroke. It was probably the most gentle thing Scorpius had ever seen her do. Just a soft gesture. Not for any reason. "You don't strike me as someone who likes animals." Scorpius breaks the silence, walking up beside her slowly, not trying to spook the creature. There were others too- at the Lakeside. Shaded by the tall trees.

"I