Aug 4
I know I kick hornet nests for fun on this site but I promise I don't irl. I must be such a good punching bag, though, cuz everybody goes for my neck all the time
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I know I kick hornet nests for fun on this site but I promise I don't irl. I must be such a good punching bag, though, cuz everybody goes for my neck all the time
I wouldn’t cut your head off out of anger. That’s just ridiculous. I don’t want you to stay dead.
…
What lizard?
This one!
Promptly reaches into his cloak to get a hand into his pocket, only to produce a very live and very horned lizard.
Careful. He spits blood.
Out of his eyes.
Chapter 15. Am I More Than You Bargained For Yet?
Lowkey I am fully aware that it seems like I don’t put a lot of what goes on behind the scenes with Albus and his family and I for real will get onto doing that soon (in fact there is some in this chapter!)
Anyways, this is also posted onto my Fanfiction.net account SomeKind0fMagic and my Wattpad somekindofmagic1 and my AO3 account s0m3kind0fmagic so you can check it out on there too!
I do not own Harry Potter
Prev Next
Albus’s eyes drifted from the homework he was trying to finish before class as he heard the sound of owls coming into the Great Hall. he wasn’t expecting anything so he turned back to the Herbology work. He swore that he was going to do it by himself, without Annie’s help, but he had gotten distracted by Quidditch practice and had forgotten it at the bottom on his bag until Annie asked about it and now he was stuck scrambling to try and remember everything he could about Mandrake’s so that he would get the answers right and so that he wouldn’t have to explain why he failed such an easy assignment and explain that quidditch distracted him. He knew that Professor Longbottom wouldn’t accept that excuse.
Honestly, Albus was sure that no teacher really would since he chose to try out for the team and accepted his position.
He heard a strange noise come from Annie so he turned to look at her, brow raised as she tossed the letter in front of her. “Everything okay?” A small hint of laughter in his voice.
She sighed, “Apparently, Mum and dad are fighting over Liana again and apparently it’s freaking Clara out. Or at least according to Aidan as she’s staying with him.” She moved a piece of hair out of her face, “But, at least I guess this is, on the bright side, Cass is pregnant so I’m gonna be an Aunt.”
He noted the indifference, that almost sounded unjoyful, tone in her voice. He moved more to face her. “Is that not good, somehow?”
She shrugged, “I dunno, ask me again in ten years.”
He laughed, turning back to his parchments. “Alright I guess I will.”
And as he was grabbing a piece of bacon, looking at the question again to try to answer it when he heard a soft voice call out his name. “Albus?” He looked over to almost behind him and saw the blonde hair of his younger cousin.
He coughed to clear his throat, trying to clear any confusion or even shock from his voice. “Lucy? What’s up?”
She held out a few envelopes to him, “These were for you. Your parents' owl accidently sent them to James instead so he sent me to give them to you. Plus this other one from someone else was sent to James by accident too.”
“Oh,” He took them from her hands, almost hesitantly for some reason. As he moved to place them next to his work, he glanced at her. “Thanks.” He brushed a small bit of hair from his eyes. “Is that all?” She nodded and he tapped his thigh slightly. “Okay...I’m gonna get back to my work and food.”
She nodded again, “See you later Albus.”
He hummed in agreement as he turned back and she walked away. He didn’t even spare a look at the Gryffindor table, already knowing that at least James was staring him down. He finished eating the piece of bacon he had previously grabbed and looked back at his homework. But he didn’t even last ten seconds before he felt eyes on him. He slowly looked up to see Scorpius staring at him. He raised a brow at his friend, “Can I help you?”
“Are you gonna read those letters?”
“Am I not allowed to do my homework ethically? Without cheating? At this point with the amount of distractions or interruptions, I’m never gonna get it done in time!” He heard Annie snort and he pointedly turned to her. “Really? You’re really going to make fun of me at this time?”
“Here.” She laughed out, grabbing a few pieces of parchment similar to his. “Just copy them, Al. do the usual and change the wording. I’m honestly tired of watching you slowly lose it.”
He gave her a bland face, almost thinking about pushing her off of the bench. “I hate you.”
“Lies.” She smiled sweetly and pushed hair from her own face, “But Scorpius is right, are you gonna read them?”
He slid Annie's work over closer to him and put his quill down. “I guess. But I seriously don’t understand why you two want me to read them.”
As he grabbed one, Scorpius shrugged, “Chaos.”
He hummed and started to read the first letter:
Albus,
How has your second year been going outside of making the team? Honestly, getting a letter that says “made the team, you can send my broom.” wasn’t exactly what I was asking for when I told you to write more.
But besides that, we’re all happy for you and will try to make the first game. Neville said that it was against Gryffindor so it’ll be most of the family as Rose also made the Gryffindor team as a Chaser. Ron made a joke that now Lily and Hugo just need to make the team when they get to Hogwarts and then basically everyone in the family was on the team.
Astoria also sent me a letter telling me that Scorpius made the team, let him know I say congratulations and that we’ll see you at the game.
Love,
Mum
“Mum knows you also made the team, Scor, she says congrats.”
He saw the small smile on his face, “Tell her I say thanks, whenever you write to her again.”
“Actually,” He started as he began to fold up the paper and grabbed the next, “She said that she’ll try to make it to the game against Gryffindor on the 13th. So if she makes it, you could just tell her then.”
“Ah yes, because you won’t write to her before then.”
“I won’t.” He muttered as he started to read the next one that was really more of a note.
Hey Albus, I was wondering if you could help me with some Transfiguration? I would ask in person but I only ever see you in the Great Hall during meal times and then you’re with your friends and I don’t wanna bother you. I understand if you can’t though! Vic just said to go to you if I needed help, and you said to as well over summer.
Thanks! Louis
Albus looked over to the Ravenclaw table to where his younger cousin was talking to a guy that he was pretty sure was a first year too. He turned back to Annie and Scor, “I’ll be back. I’m gonna go talk to my cousin Louis.”
“That was the one who ended up sitting with us on the train, right?”
He nodded, “Yeah, he needs help with some stuff so he wrote to me about it so I was just...going to talk to him.”
“Help with what?” He started to walk away as Annie questioned him, “Albus, you can’t even--”
He walked off shaking his head, truly pretending he didn’t hear her questioning him over this. Even before he made it all the way over to the Ravenclaw table, he saw the people staring at him and did the best that he could to try and ignore it. He was used to it, oddly enough now. but...it couldn’t help feel weird as he got closer. It was stranger than what he was used to. It didn’t feel like the stares he had gotten since becoming a Slytherin nor did it feel like the ones for him being a Potter. It was like...a mix of the two he guessed.
He got up to his cousin and cleared his voice, saying his cousin's name gentler than he usually would. “Louis?”
Louis looked back and smiled at Albus, “Albus! Did you get my note?”
He nodded, “Yeah, I did. And I’m willing to help you out with whatever.”
“Thank you! When could you start?”
“Well, I have practice every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4 to 6, then Anne makes me study every Tuesday. So how’s Thursdays at about 5 and then until Dinner?”
“That works out great! Thank you so much Al!”
He smiled at his cousin, “Course Louis, we’re family, it’s what I’m supposed to do.” He ignored the small sting he felt from himself when he said that aloud.
Louis smiled, “Of course! So I’ll see you Thursday?”
Albus nodded, “See you Thursday.” And as he turned to walk away, he quickly turned back to Louis, “And Louis?” He looked at him, “Don’t be scared to come over to the Slytherin table. We don’t bite. Most of us at least.” The last bit was a slight joke and an afterthought. However, the more he thought about it, he actually couldn’t guarantee that it was a joke. He was sure that a few people would bite.
His cousin laughed, “Okay, got it!”
This time, Albus turned and walked back to his table and knew full well that even more people were staring at him as he did so. People that were in different houses were even watching him. His family at the Gryffindor table were the most, especially James and Rose. he saw them from the corner of his eye although he tried to pretend that he didn’t. But he just ignored them and walked back to his friends.
He even saw Annie and Scorpius’ eyes on him and as he sat back down next to Annie, Scorpius leaned in from across. “Dude, like everyone was staring at you while you talked to your cousin. I think that James was trying to make you explode or something with how hard and long he was staring at you!”
He laughed at his friend before playfully rolling his eyes, “Really? I didn’t even notice.”
“Seriously?!”
“He was being sarcastic, Scor.”
“Oh.”
Albus nodded before taking the papers that Annie had previously given him and quickly copying down it all before breakfast ended and he was considered to be done for.
--------
Thursday had come quicker than Albus had originally thought and now he was sitting in the library, waiting for his cousin to show. Fear began to sneak in as he looked around, in no sight was the blonde hair of his cousin. Slowly, he began to wonder if perhaps it was just some prank. That Louis was like the others. Although, he had to doubt it. Neither of his sisters were that way and it never appeared that Louis’ parents had any care about it.
If he was really going to be completely honest, Albus was beginning to wonder why he was even doing this. He was only a year older than Louis and Annie was right. He tended to struggle to get his own work done, how could he help his cousin? But it wasn’t like it was entirely that Albus didn’t understand what he was being taught. He did, most of the time. It was just hard for him to get the work done outside of class. He didn’t see the point of studying and doing the homework. He did well on quizzes and always passed without problems when it came to practical exams. He just...didn’t want to have to apply all of the time. He just didn’t see the point.
He looked over to his side as he heard the sound of a chair scraping the floor. Finally, he saw the blonde hair of his cousin, who also had an apologetic look on his face. “I’m so sorry Albus! I was talking with Liana and I didn’t even realize what time it was.”
Albus smiled at him, “That’s fine, we’ll just have a little less time than originally planned.”
He smiled in a sort of grateful way, “That’s fine.”
Albus cleared his throat for a moment, “How is Liana by the way?”
“She’s good. She doesn’t really talk much about her family, but I think everyone in the house knows that she’s upset over what happened.” Albus nodded as Louis grabbed a book from his bag before sighing. “Can you just promise not to talk about this to anyone? Or at least anyone who would tell someone in our family. I don’t want someone like Rose or Molly finding out and then getting mad because I didn’t go to them.”
Albus offered a small smile and nod. He knew better than to ask, despite him wanting to more than anything. Ask why he hadn’t gone to Rose or Molly first. They were smarter, it was known. They would be able to get him up to speed in no time. But all Albus could do after was rub his nose, feeling how cold it was starting to get in the castle before pointing to the book Louis had placed in front of them.
“So, what in Transfiguration do you need help with?”
He heard Louis give out an awkwardly uncomfortable laugh and saw him rubbing his neck. “Um...All of it?”
Albus laughed, trying to make him feel better. “That’s fine. Transfiguration isn’t all that easy.” Especially if one is just going based on the book. “Well, we might as well start and try to see what we can get you to understand.” He opened up the book, “So--”
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The two cousins hadn’t even realized that dinner was starting until a painting by them had mumbled something about how studious the two were as they were there and dinner was starting. And as soon as they had heard that, Louis had quickly slammed his book shut, shoving it into his bag as Albus frantically grabbed his. Before they exited the library, they agreed to meet again the next week, just that time on time (although Albus was sure one of them would be late, punctuality wasn’t something their family was known for).
So now Albus was running down the stairs to the Slytherin common room in order to toss his bag into his room with the other second years, even though he’d have to come back for it before Astronomy. He knew someone was following him from behind but he chose to ignore it, especially as he had turned his head over his shoulder and saw James and Rose. He closed his eyes for a brief moment as he neared the common room, muttering the password and running in. He didn’t want to know what his brother and cousin wanted. And he especially didn’t want to know why they had basically followed him from the library to the dungeons.
He ran up the stairs and opened the door to his dorm before tossing his bag onto the bed and turning around and running down the stairs again and out of the common room, back to the dungeons. He hadn’t even made it to the stairs to go back up to the Entrance Hall and head to the Great Hall for dinner when James and Rose called out to him. He stopped and closed his eyes again, letting out a breath, before turning to look at them.
“What do you want?”
He saw James cross his arms, some sort of accusatorial look on his face. “What are you doing with Louis?”
“Nothing? We were just talking.” Albus sighed and crossed his own arms, “Y’know, like family is supposed to.”
“Albus, don’t--”
“Rose,” He looked at his cousin, “Please don’t sit there and try to act all high and mighty, please, I beg of you.”
“I wasn’t--”
“You were.” He blankly said, “That’s what you do. And I also don’t know why it matters that I’m spending more time with Louis. He’s my cousin, we’re allowed to talk and do things together.”
“Well what were you doing in the library, then?”
“Not bringing him to ‘my side’ if that’s what you think. And honestly, what is my cause? Just existing and loving my house because my friends and their families are, for the most part, extremely nice?”
“We don’t care if someone--”
He scoffed and interrupted Rose, “You don’t? Then why did you practically cast me out when I tried to tell you the truth? Not all Slytherins are bad, most aren’t. Gryffindor has just as many bad members, as does Ravenclaw, and I’m sure Hufflepuff. Slytherin isn’t the only house where people turned evil or did evil things.”
“We didn’t care, Albus, you were the one who did.”
“I didn’t. You did. But I guess you can’t see past your own ego and realize how you treat everyone outside of Gryffindor. Outside of those who worship the ground you walk on.”
James narrowed his eyes, “I never acted that way. You changed immediately and started acting like all of those people do. Acting like you’re--”
He stopped him, “No James. That’s you. You act like you’re the best. You act like no one is better than you because of who your--our dad is. Who our mum is. Who our family is. I could probably name the people who act like that in Slytherin since there’s so few. And what am I acting like? Am I acting like the horrifying villain in your story? In the story of your life where you’re the savior? Or am I just pointing out that not everyone worships you because you’re Harry Potter’s kid!”
“I have a reason to brag about my dad! He is Harry fucking Potter! He saved the Wizarding World! Stopped it from Voldemort! Who, might I add, was a Slytherin! As were all of his other followers! Including your precious Malfoy’s father! But then my father went on to marry Ginny Weasley from the Holyhead Harpies and have two kids--!”
Albus watched James’ lips move but he didn’t hear the words come out. He saw Rose look away, almost ashamed at what she was hearing. He looked at her, almost desperately. Almost begging her to tell him to stop. To prove to Albus that this was just some stupid thing that she had seen through. That she had just wanted James’ approval but he saw that she said nothing. She just looked away, avoiding his eyes. Her brown away avoiding his glassed over green ones. Albus looked back at James, almost defeatedly. And he saw the look on James’ face. Smug. As if he had just won something.
“You know...Peter Pettigrew was a Gryffindor and he was the reason our grandparents are dead and our father had to be the saviour of the wizarding world at 17 after going through fight after fight since he turned 11. Teddy’s grandmother was a Slytherin. And you seem to forget that Narcissa Malfoy, the woman who lied to Voldemort that our dad was dead, was a Slytherin. I don’t think it’s fair that you can say that about my house when you have one of the biggest traitors to our family.” He looked at Rose, “I hope Hugo and Lily see past you.”
He rubbed his nose and turned to walk back up the stairs, “Now if you two don’t mind, I’m heading up to the Great Hall to eat.”
He quickly ran up the stairs and held back the tears that continued to threaten to fall. He was silent as he walked over to his two friends and sat next to them. He saw the look the two of them shared, as well as saw Rohyn whisper into Scorpius’ ear but Albus didn’t have the will to say anything. He felt Annie gently touch his shoulder and he looked at her, but regretting it as he saw James walk in. Rose was nowhere in sight and it wasn’t like he cared. She made her choice and now they both had to live with that.
He fully looked at Annie before breathing out, “Liana’s doing good.”
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Albus stayed in the back of the Astronomy tower as Professor Sinistra spoke about something in the sky. Honestly, Albus wasn’t sure what she was saying. His book was open, flipping pages as instructed but the words just went into one ear and out the other. He looked everywhere but at the pages even. His eyes eventually fell on Rose. She was also in the back, but as far away from him as she could get. He saw her eyes. He could see the red and puffiness in them from where he was. Even as she was slightly covered in shadows.
He hated her. He hated that she was crying. What was she crying for? She had no reason to cry. No reason to be upset. She was the one who did the harm. She didn’t get harmed. She said nothing. She deserved what he said to her. He hoped it happened. That Hugo and Lily would see how she was. See that she wouldn’t stick up for them if it would hurt her or her reputation or looks. If it would make her be on the bad side of anyone in her house.
He didn’t care what type of person it made him. He hoped that one day she would know how he felt.
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Albus had ran out of the Astronomy tower the second Professor Sinistra had called the end of class. He heard Annie and Scorpius call after him but he didn’t listen. He just ran out as fast as he could in order to make it back to the common room without anyone talking to him. He just...he couldn’t deal with it. Not here, not now. He really wasn’t even sure he ever wanted to talk about it, but he was sure he would have to. He was sure that someone would get it out of him, one of these days. But he didn’t want to have to think about that. No now.
Truthfully, Albus didn’t understand any of it. Understand why he felt this way. He and James had never been close, both had (separately) been closer to Lily than each other. But he wasn’t sure that he had ever thought that it would be this way. Where Albus felt like he couldn’t...well he wasn’t even sure what he felt.
He pushed the door to his dorm room, no one else was in there. He tossed his book bag to the side and he couldn’t even bring himself to remove his glasses or change into his pajamas before he fell face forward onto his bed. He just fell forward and held his pillow tightly before somehow falling asleep before everyone else made it back.
Chapter 14. This is a Worthwhile Fight
I'm sorry that I take forever to update y'all. I'm in college and I'm like busy 24/7 but I currently am on Thanksgiving break here in America so I'm gonna try and finish up with the chapters that I need to have rewritten before you guys can get total new stuff that I've never written before for Easy To Hate so let's hope I can get through all of this!!!!
Anyways, this is also posted onto my Fanfiction.net account SomeKind0fMagic and my Wattpad somekindofmagic1 and my AO3 account s0m3kind0fmagic so you can check it out on there too!
I do not own Harry Potter
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As Slughorn passed each student, handing them their respective schedules, Albus let out a groan. He couldn’t believe it, he actually had to do school in the afternoon. He couldn't just go back to the common room and play games after lunch. He had to go back into a classroom essentially until dinner some days. “Look at this, we no longer have the afternoons off! It’s barbaric!”
He watched as Scorpius quickly scanned the schedule, a groan coming from him as well as Annie rolled her eyes. But even as she did that, he saw the small look of grimace that she had herself. “Well, I’m sorry Albus. But at least we have Astrology a little earlier.”
He sighed, she was right. Meant that on Thursdays they’d get to get to bed earlier than they had on Fridays the previous year. “That’s the only plus Annie. The. Only. Plus.”
She rolled her eyes at him, “You’re overdramatic Albus.”
He smiled at her cheekily, “You love it.”
He watched her deadpan, watching her mouth open to speak when he heard Genevieve’s voice: “Anne, c’mon.”
“Really? Can’t wait for what you guys have to say.” He saw Annie cross her arms, “Why should I have to? I don’t agree with it.”
He looked between the two sisters, neither of them had a happy look on their face. “Come on, we have to talk to Liana.”
“But it shouldn’t matter--”
“Come on.”
He watched his friend sigh before angrily getting up, telling him and Scorpius, and he guessed Robyn and Holly as well, that she would be back. He watched as she left the Great Hall, an angry look on her face. He watched as all of the Green siblings walked out of the hall and a heaviness began to weigh inside Albus. He knew what was going to happen. He remembered what Annie had said the night before, about their father going to kill Liana. And from what Genevieve had said and Annie’s responses, he knew this wouldn’t end well.
He turned back to his friends, all of their faces caused the heaviness in him to grow more. It was like they all knew this would end in an argument. That it would cause a divide in the family. He knew what that was like; being the cause of division. Cause of division based on your house. He knew it and he felt for Liana. Empathized with her side. He knew that she would blame herself. He felt bad for Annie, knowing she could care less about houses, her being friends with him proved it. He even had convinced himself that her siblings didn’t either, but he guessed he was wrong. Or maybe they had only been fine with him as he had been put into Slytherin, because they had James Potter’s younger brother.
He knew that people thought of him like that. Knew that people wanted to use him as a pawn in their hatred for James and the Gryffindor house. And he didn’t like it. Truthfully and honestly. It filled him with anger as he felt that some people didn’t actually like him as a person but like the idea of getting back at James.
But with Annie, he knew that there was no way that she would have reacted that way if--
“--Just because I’m not a Slytherin doesn’t make me less of a Green!” Everyone looked over at the doors as they heard Liana scream at her siblings.
He, along with others, looked out in concern as Genevieve yelled back: “Yes it does! Everyone with the last name Green has been a Slytherin! It’s been that way for centuries!”
“No we aren’t! Our Great Great Great Aunt was a Ravenclaw--”
“And she disowned Anneliese! Why do you think--”
“Don’t interrupt me Dominick! Just because you’re older doesn’t automatically give you the right to interrupt me! I would bet 10 galleons that I’m smarter and better than you!”
They only got louder. The professors, McGonagall included, began to stand, to walk down the hall. Everyone watched as the siblings began to argue over her needing to be re-sorted. And through all the yelling and chaos outside, Albus caught James’s eyes. He knew...he knew what his brother was thinking. He knew that they were thinking the same. That this would have been how it would have gone if James had gathered the family that was there. He knew that both he and his brother knew that this was how it was between them. Even though they never showed it. Not this publicly anyways.
And it was odd, that as he watched James look away, the feeling that had risen in him. Some type of understanding. Some type of understanding that the two had. That they wouldn’t let it get bad enough for any fights to be heard outside of the family.
That they wouldn’t needlessly get people involved who didn’t need to be and to never get the teachers involved.
But Albus wasn’t stupid. He was 12 and a bit idiotic as all 12-year-old boys were, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew James and he knew himself. He knew that one day a fight would break out and no one would be able to stop what would happen after.
And if Lily ends up in Slytherin next year? Well Albus knew it would be like the muggle saying: “All hell will break loose.”
And maybe that was why he was secretly being selfish and hoping his sister would risk her own self and wish for Gryffindor like Albus sometimes wished he had done. Or that perhaps she’d be placed somewhere else. Placed somewhere, anywhere, but in Slytherin. He didn’t want her to get hurt. Not like he had been. He didn’t want her to feel what he did. Want her to watch as people she grew up with turn their backs on her just because of her house.
It wasn’t until he saw, from the corner of his eye, Annie and her family walking in (well more like being forced back in), that he finally broke eye contact with the Gryffindor table. And he, along with everyone else, stood as they saw Dominick grab Liam before punching him. Albus knew Dominick was aggressive but he hadn’t expected him to draw blood from Liam. It caused a small landslide with Derek punching Anotonio. It was a shock. Between the two, Albus would have bet that Antonio would throw the first punch. The older boy had that look about him. The messy black hair and piercings with the other jewelry had always given him that idea.
And he had thought that that would be the end, Professor Longbottom taking 50 points each from the two of the boys. Earning a groan from nearly every Slytherin. 100 points, plus whatever they all were sure had been lost from outside. Dominick and Derek were both being pulled out by Professor Slughorn before they heard Professor Pritchard yell and grab Liana and Alexa.
Albus saw Alexa’s hair had been pulled out of her braids, glasses had fallen to the ground. He saw the look of anger on Liana’s face. A look he had recognized from the mirror. He watched as everyone except Dominick, Derek, and the two girls were pulled out of the hall by their Head of Houses with Professor Longbottom following behind them.
And as they were all pulled out, the students who had remained standing finally sat. Albus finally sat. He finally saw Annie as she sat back next to him. He saw her face, a face he had also seen on himself. And it was a gentle, almost indiscreet thing he did, unconscious even, but he gently caressed her back. Something his mother had done several times for him growing up. He saw her look as she moved away from him slightly and he couldn’t explain it but he felt his heart sink.
And although he knew that it was wrong to do, he felt as though he did something wrong.
And still, by the end of the first day, everyone was talking about the fight. Everyone could see how the entirety of the Green family, from Antonio and Derek to Alexa and even Liana at the Ravenclaw, were tense. Annie hadn’t spoken at all, Antonio and Derek hadn’t been around one another at all (which even though the two of them were never super close they still were twins and it was odd for Albus to not see them around each other). And it was weird for him as Dominick and Derek were with one another, Randy and Genevieve not far from them. He looked at the four with confusion the whole day. He knew that Dominick had some questionable choices from the past but he was still shocked that Randy and Genevieve and especially Derek were by his side. And Alexa was off, over by two of the other Slytherin girls, talking with them most days.
And Albus couldn’t put his finger on why, but he was concerned for his friend. Concerned for how quiet she had been, especially as the days followed and she still didn’t speak much. He watched her with concern, worried that something else had been said out in that hall or even since then that had gotten her to be that way.
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As the first two weeks of school had passed, things eventually started to go back to normal. Well, Albus wouldn’t say “normal, normal” but still closer to normal than it was. Antonio and Derek had hardly spoken to one another, along with Liam and Randy, but it wasn’t like Albus had cared too much about that. Annie was speaking again. Back to occasionally being difficult to even get to shut up. But even with that, he didn’t care. She was going back to normal and things were going back to normal. Normal enough to where she had agreed to watch him and Scorpius (along with everyone else) try out for the Quidditch team.
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Albus nervously tapped his foot as he tried to eat while Scorpius just stared at his own food and Annie yawned while laying her head on the table. He saw Antonio sit across from them before he rustled his sister's hair, a short laugh coming from Albus as Annie looked up at him, annoyed almost.
“I will kill you.”
“Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.”
He watched her push herself back up, seeing the glare she sent her brother, something that almost calmed his own nerves. “I am the idiot who said yes when her two friends asked her to watch them tryout for the stupid Quidditch team.”
“Okay, now one, it isn’t stupid. And two,” The elder boy looked at Albus, “Whatcha going out for?”
“Uh, Seeker.”
“Oh please for the love of Merlin let you be good and Matt have a brain! We would kill to have a Potter Seeker on our team! Especially since according to rumors James is gonna be Chaser.”
“That’s true.”
“What?”
Albus nodded, glancing at Oliver Avery. “Yeah. He decided to swap out this year.” Albus shrugged, “Couldn’t tell you why.”
“Maybe he heard you were trying out and then realized that he could never beat you as a Seeker.”
Albus laughed slightly at Scorpius’s comment, taking a quick bite of his food before shaking his head as he swallowed. “No. He had already decided to change before the end of last season. Before I had even considered trying for the team.”
“Either way. Still pretty epic if you make the team.”
His eyes darted over to where he heard a thud. Seeing Rohyn’s similarly unruly black hair hit slowly lift from the table. “Why in Merlin’s name did Matt decide that tryouts had to be at eight in the bloody morning? It’s too early for this.”
Almost everyone at the table murmured in agreement. “Agreed.”
He saw Antonio stretch before sighing, “Anyways, I’m sure you three guys will be fine. Anyone who has played with or against you Rohyn knows you’re a bloody good Keeper. Matt making everyone try out aside, we needed a Keeper with Aidan graduating last year. Plus, we were down a Chaser so Scorpius has a chance. Granted some people might be better but they’re older. For both of you. But I’m pretty sure Matt wants younger blood. Blood he can mold and will stay on the team for longest. And then Albus has Quidditch royalty really. I mean his--”
Albus rolled his eyes, stopping Antonio, doing the spiel himself. “Yeah, yeah, I know. My mother was Ginny Weasley. One of the best Chasers the Holyhead Harpies had seen in ages, played both Chaser and Seeker while at Hogwarts. And then my father is Harry freakin’ Potter. The youngest quidditch player in a century. Playing for the Gryffindor quidditch team in his first year. I know. Everyone loves to remind me.”
Antonio raised his hands up, “Sorry, but all I was saying is that it would be weird if you didn’t play. Or at the very least were shite at it. I mean, how much of your family either plays or used to?”
Albus shrugged his shoulders, before looking up and thinking. “Four of my Uncles, Charlie, was a Seeker, Fred and George were Beaters and Ron was a Keeper. Then my Aunt Angelina, who was a Chaser, my parents, my dad's dad, who played both Chaser and Seeker apparently. Last year it was James, Fred, and Vic and then last I knew, Rose was trying out this year so she’ll probably get in, then, if she does, that’ll be another one. And I mean, it is an extra one if you count Teddy.”
He saw as Antonio was counting his fingers. “I would count him, you always say he’s basically a second brother. So, let’s say Rose doesn’t get on the team, that’ll be about 11 and then with Rose it would be 12.”
Albus shrugged, “It’s a lot. I dunno why basically everyone in my family plays.” He rubbed his nose, “But what you guys?”
Antonio motioned to Annie, “Of us here at Hogwarts, who recently left, Anne here is the only one who doesn’t play.”
Albus looked at his friend, who looked like she was about to fall asleep. “Why don’t you play?”
She shrugged lazily. “Don’t have the will to. Don’t find it fun really. I mean, who actually finds the thought of possibly falling off of an object up in the air and breaking several bones, getting concussion, as well as all of the other things that could happen. I don’t see the appeal of it. I’ll watch it, enjoy it while doing so even, but with my ability to get hurt easily, I don’t even try.
“Whatever.” Antonio shoved a piece of toast into his face and looked at the three second years and spoke after he swallowed, “Knowing Matt, he’ll want us there ten minutes before tryouts actually start. He’s so big on the whole ‘early is on time, on time is late, and late you’re off of the team’ idea. So, if you do make the team, I’m sure he’ll give that spiel to you but I’m just forewarning you.”
Albus looked at Antonio, almost incredulously. “Really?”
Nodding, Antonio continued, standing now. “Yeah, his sister, Charlotte, she’s always late to events and it’s funny cause it’s not their parents who get mad at her, no, it’s him. Like, Aunt Millicent and Uncle Goyle could care less about punctuality as long as you aren’t dramatically late.”
“Couldn’t imagine that.”
“It’s normal in our families. They hate tardiness. That’s why Anne is always late.”
Annie snorted, “Actually, no. I’m always late because I have no sense of time and I refuse to get a watch.”
Albus sighed, “Well, maybe we should head out.”
Scorpius nodded, “He’s right, we should. Plus, we all have to put on the tryout uniform, which Al and I do not have.”
Antonio nodded, “Very true. Alright, let’s head down. You’ll be good by yourself Anne?”
She nodded, “Yeah, I’ll be fine.”
Her brother nodded as the four boys got up and made their way. Albus stopped before turning and looking at his friend, smile on his face, fist out. “Wish me luck?”
He watched her roll her eyes but still tap her fist against his. “Luck.”
He continued to smile before turning and making his way back over to the other three guys. His heart was pounding as he pretended that he wasn’t more nervous than he was at the sorting. He tightly held his hand in a fist as he silently walked with the other Slytherins but the silence freaked him more so before he even thought of it, he just spoke out: “Why does everyone call your dad Goyle, Rohyn?”
“I dunno. I think they always have. I think that’s the norm in my family. Or...at least it was until my parents had us.” He laughed, “I sometimes wonder if people even know my dads name.”
Albus glanced at his friend, realizing he didn’t know Mr. Goyle’s first name. “You know what, I actually don’t know it. What is it?”
“Gregory.”
Scorpius snorted, “I could never imagine calling him ‘Uncle Greg’ or ‘Uncle Gregory,’ it just sounds so bloody wrong.”
Albus laughed with Antonio and Royhn. The eldest sighed as they neared the pitch, “Is there really anyone else that we do this to? That we don’t call by their first name, always last?”
Things went silent as the three boys with historically Slytherin families thought. He glanced between them, thinking about it for himself, but knowing that he never did that. He watched as they each shook their heads.
“I don’t...” Rohyn started, “I can’t think of anyone that we do this to except for my dad.”
“Yeah...me either. It’s kinda weird in all honesty.”
Albus nodded in agreement, but before they really could say anything, they entered the tent and Albus felt his stomach in his throat. Unsure if he could do this after all as he saw the people who had shown up. All older. All with, he assumed, more experience. What little confidence and faith he had in himself faded, thinking that if he would make any team, it would be the reserves, but he knew deep down that he wouldn’t make the team.
Either of them.
--------
But as he watched the other players tryout, he realized that maybe he wouldn’t have too much to worry about. Matt had called for Chasers first. He watched as each group barely were able to even do what Matt had asked of them. The only one that was a splinter of talent was the one Oliver Avery was on, and even then the talent and ability to play was only from him. Albus began to wonder if it wasn’t so much as captain or just Dominick being a shitty player as much as it was that no one in Slytherin house knew how to play.
A few more groups went before Scorpius finally did. He was with another second year, Jordan Boles, who Albus identified as after a few moments. He didn’t know the other person. He was sure that they were a third year but he didn’t know their name. Not really at least. Not confidently enough to just say it and feel like he was right.
He watched the three of them run the drills that Matt called for them. As he watched, he knew that the third year he couldn’t name was out. The kid could hardly play. But when it came to Jordan and Scorpius, Albus couldn’t see who would be better suited for the place. He nervously bit his lip for his friend. He liked Jordan and he hoped, selfishly, that if Albus didn’t make the team then Jordan did and not Scorpius. But he hoped that if he did make the team, that Scorpius would get the Chaser position. He knew it was selfish and he really didn’t care.
“Jordan is good, but not reliable.”
Albus looked over at Oliver Avery. “What?”
“I know you’re thinking that it’s between Scorpius and Jordan, but it isn’t. At least I don’t think so. Look at the three of them,” He watched as Oliver pointed out at the people in the sky. “Martin can’t hold the ball, Jordan isn’t trying to pick up the slack but Scorpius is. He’s not playing as one player but two.” Albus watched and saw what Oliver was talking about. “My bet is that Chaser’s will be me, Scorpius and Matt. Jordan will definitely make the reserve team though. But I think he’ll be the only one. Which isn’t good to have, but at least it’s better than it’s been in the past where we didn’t even have a reserve.”
Albus nodded, hand nervously gripping the school given broom. Matt had given everyone one. Made the playing field even. Everyone had the same broom.
“Seekers are next, Potter.”
Albus nodded, he knew it. He saw the list momentarily when he had passed Matt earlier. Saw it say Chasers then Seekers and then Keepers before ending with Beaters. He didn’t know the order that Matt would be going in so he nervously looked around as the Chasers came down. He watched as Matt wrote some things down and Scorpius came over. He didn’t hear what Oliver said to his friend, he just watched Matt, waiting to hear who he called first. And a breath that was almost a breath of relief left Albus’ mouth as neither of the two names were his.
He watched the kid nervously fly up and Albus watched and knew that he was at least better than him. And then the second kid wasn’t too different. He knew that neither one of them would make it. Seeker was the most dangerous positions to be. Everyone thinks that it’s Beater but anyone who plays the game knows it's really the Seekers that are in more danger. You have to avoid the bludgers that the Beaters send to try to take you out. Even if you get the snitch, it won’t help if you don’t have a high enough score. You’ll either still not win, tie, or barely win and not get the extra points to help in winning the cup.
And he watched as Matt blew the whistle with neither boy getting the snitch.
Dominick was next up, with third year Roy Harper. He watched the two of them play. Roy was good. Not as good as the choices had been from the other three teams but he was better than Dominick. And he watched as it appeared Roy almost caught the snitch a few times. But he knew that the whistle was about to be blown, just as Roy caught the snitch.
Albus squeezed his fists. He knew that he was next. It was only him and one other person standing there for Seeker. He wasn’t sure how this person was. He knew that, if anything, it would likely be between him and Roy. He hoped that maybe he was good enough to get put on the team, but he knew that if it wasn’t true, he would be on the reserves.
And honestly that felt like it was more than what Albus thought that he deserved.
But he was knocked from his head as Matt called his name. His name and Fabien Hightower’s. He didn’t know that kid. Not well. Albus looked at Matt as he explained the rules:
“Treat this like a normal game. Catch the snitch. Whoever does it first is who I’ll consider for the position. If neither of you can catch it then it's game out. You won’t win us the game by not catching the snitch, especially if we have less than 150 points over the other team. You two understand?”
Albus nodded and he was sure the other kid did too because Matt blew his whistle and Albus knew that it meant to take off. He tossed his leg over the broom and pushed off. He got high up, about to the top of the stands. He closed his eyes, remembering something that his dad had told him once when playing at home.
----
Albus stood nervously as he looked at his dad. It was the first time that they were letting him play as Seeker instead of Chaser and he was nervous. Albus wasn’t sure how to play Seeker, not really. But his dad was smiling at him softly. “Now, all you have to do is catch the snitch. Do it before your brother does. But wait until your team has a high enough lead against his, alright?” Albus nodded, mentally noting everything his dad was saying. “And even though we don’t have them here, in the real setting, go up to the top of the stands. I always found it was easier to see from there.”
Albus rubbed his nose, “What about here?”
“Top of the Burrow. Before the chimney, though. The top of the roof. Right,” He felt his dad move him to look at a certain point before he pointed his finger somewhere specific. “Right there, alright?” Albus looked at his dad and nodded. “Alright, now go win that game.”
Albus nodded and ran over to where Rose, Vic, and Teddy were waiting for him.
----
Albus’ eyes opened and he quickly looked around, somehow immediately finding the snitch. He immediately leaned forward, quickly flying to the golden ball. Grabbing it, catching it and feeling the wings flutter around his finger as Matt blew the whistle, signaling their time was up as he caught the snitch.
The 12-year-old boy had a smile on his face as he came down. Confident enough that he did good. Confident that he made the team. Even as he saw Rose leaving the stands out of the corner of his eye. Even as he knew she was about to report back to James. He felt confident that he made the team.
--------
Albus sat by Scorpius, nerves hitting him again. But they were different. They weren’t for him. He was more nervous that he had made the team and Scorpius hadn’t. That he had made it and Scorpius hadn’t. He hadn’t seen Rohyn, having come back to the tent to shower as it was what Matt had told him. Which was something he didn’t really get why he did. Afterall, he barely broke a sweat. He understood why the Chasers and then the Keepers and finally the Beaters did. But he didn’t know why he ended up doing it.
He watched as Matt came out of the back area that he assumed as the Captain's office. He stared, nervously clenching and unclenching his fist. A nervous habit he had recently gotten, a habit he was sure wasn’t going to go away anytime soon. He listened as Matt began to read off the list of those who didn’t make either team. It included everyone who Albus had thought. A smirk even fell on his face when Dominick’s name was called out. But it was replaced with an eyeroll as Dominick began to throw a fit over it.
“I made the list, with the help of your brother Dominick. And unfortunately for you, a third and a second year did better than you. Now get out before I make you. And I think we both remember last summer when you tried this shit.”
Albus looked between the two boys, a sigh of relief that he didn’t know he had left his lips as the Green brother angrily left the tent. He turned his attention back to Matt as he finished off the names of those who didn’t make it. A small sound of people talking started as everyone realized that this meant they either made the main team or the reserve.
But they all quieted down as Matt began to speak. “Alright. Now, the 13 of you left here either made the main team or the reserve. Six of you will be there for as many games as your body can handle while seven will be there when either myself or one of the other six members cannot play. This is not a game of favorites or whatever you may think, I went based on talent. Understood?”
Everyone nodded or made noises of agreement. And Matt nodded, looking at the clipboard again. “Now, as I call your name, take the jersey that fits you and has your last name on it. Alright, this year's Beaters are Antonio and Liam Green.” Albus looked, he hadn’t even noticed that Liam was there and he saw the angry look on Derek's face. “Derek Green and Tony Higgs are on reserve. Keeper is Rohyn Goyle with his reserve being Andrew Montague. Chasers are me, with Oliver Avery returning and Scorpius Malfoy joining.” Albus looked at Scorpius with a smile on his face while his friend stared in shock as Matt listed off the names of the reserve players for Chasers. “And finally, it is my pleasure to tell everyone that Albus Potter will be our Seeker for this year.”
Albus felt his air catch in his throat. He was the Slytherin Seeker. He had done it. He really had done it. He couldn’t believe it. Sure, he has ended up being confident but he was also so sure with the way that his life had been going that he wasn’t gonna make the main team. So it came to him as a shock that Matt actually called his name as Slytherin’s next Seeker. He stood and almost sort of stumbled over to where the jersey's were. A small smile fell upon his face as he saw the number “6” looking back at him. Six had been his mum’s number. He had been sure that he would have gotten “7” like his dad and brother, but he was happy to see the number six looking back at him. Afterall, it had been the number he had always seen in photos and on the jersey that hung in the back on his mum's closet.
“Alright, for you guys on the main team, practice Monday, Wednesday, Friday after dinner with Saturday’s if there isn’t Hogsmeade or a game. I expect each and every one of you there. You can only get out if you’re stuck in the Hospital Wing or detention. Otherwise, I expect you all to be here every night.”
The stern, Captain look fell from Matt’s face and was replaced with a smile. “I’m excited for this year’s team. I think we can do a lot of good. Especially with you three second years. You’re young and I can mold you into the perfect players to make sure Slytherin wins.”
“And with a Potter on our team, we already have an advantage.”
Matt nodded, “Something I do want to take advantage of. You’re good Potter but you still need some work. I know how the Hufflepuff’s Seeker is and he is good, better than James was. Hufflepuff in general has been a powerhouse in Quidditch for a few years. But Hufflepuff is our last game so I am sure that with hard work and dedication, we can win it with us getting the snitch and still having a high lead. Or maybe their luck ends with Victoire Weasley now gone. Either way, we can do this. And either way, you guys are free to go.”
Albus nodded and grabbed all of his things before turning to head out with Rohyn and Scorpius. And almost as soon as they stepped out of the tent, they saw all the girls standing out there. Holly squealed in excitement as they stepped out and he heard her say something about him being on the team but he saw Annie just sitting there and staring off in the distance. He carefully walked over to her and put his hand onto her shoulder. “You alright?”
He watched her blink a few times before tilting her head. “What?”
And he repeated himself, “I said are you okay, you seemed spaced out.”
“Oh yeah! Sorry, I was just thinking.” She smiled, “So, did you make the team?”
“Yeah! So did Scor and Rohyn!”
She punched his shoulder, “Killer, maybe now we’ll have a chance at winning a game.”
He laughed as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, almost already guiding her. “Yeah, maybe. But c’mon, lunch has already started and I’m hungry.”
He heard her laugh and knew that she rolled her eyes, despite not seeing it. “Of course you are.”
He tossed his head to look at her and smiled at. She smiled back and he led the way as they made their way back to the school and to the Great Hall with the hope that there would be food for him to eat.
idk abt you but if waterparks followed me home and performed in my house and then awsten brutally murdered me and wore my severed foot as an accessory id thank them
Chapter 13. Always Fine Your Way Back Home
I do not own Harry Potter, if I did then Snape would not have been redeemed
Second year, here we go! Newbies are Alexa and Liana Green, and Louis, Lucy, and Roxanne Weasley
So it is apparently unknown as to when the letters come in, so I’m gonna have it be anywhere between 8 and 3 weeks before the school year starts (why? because I like that idea)
I also forgot Albus had a ferret until I was rewatching the movies and was reminded so um...yeah that’s now here!
Anyways, this is also posted onto my Fanfiction.net account SomeKind0fMagic and my Wattpad somekindofmagic1 and my AO3 account s0m3kind0fmagic so you can check it out on there too!
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Albus looked up from his cereal as he heard the sound of an owl dropping in. He saw the two letters that were with the paper as his dad grabbed them. He looked back down and ate more of his breakfast before he heard his dad finally speak:
“Letters are here.”
Albus took his from his dads hand gently as James harshly grabbed his. He stayed quiet as he read through the list, not many new books for this year. Just the second edition of Standard Book of Spells, a defense against the dark arts book, as well as a new potions book. He was thankful enough that he didn’t have many books to buy, however he knew he would have more next year since he got to add two more classes onto his schedule.
“Bloody hell, I didn’t get captain. I swore Elizabeth was gonna give me it!”
Albus spared a small glance to James before he put his letter down and went back to finishing his cereal.
“Well, it is only your fourth year, James. Not most fourth years become captain.” Albus heard their dad reason.
“Yeah, but she did! And she acted like she was gonna put me up for it all year!”
Their mum hummed, “And most people don’t switch positions after playing the same one for two years.”
“Do you know who got it?”
“No Lily, I don’t. I won’t know who the bloody captain is until we get back to Hogwarts in three weeks!”
Albus sighed and pushed his spoon around in the bowl, trying to bring up the topic of him thinking about trying out for the Quidditch team. Or even how to interrupt James being well...James. He stared at his bowl of, now soggy, cereal as it minutely angered him. But not enough to actually make him react to it. It was more of an annoyance of everything going on and how he wished it could be different, in some way.
As James continued to speak, going through the different members of the Gryffindor team, trying to figure out who could have been made captain, Albus let out a breath before just speaking: “I’m thinking about trying out for Slytherin’s Quidditch team.” He heard everyone at the table go silent and he continued to stare at his bowl of cereal that wouldn’t get eaten anymore. “I also only need three new books.”
“You’re trying out for the team?” He heard the sneer in James’ voice, “Slytherin has a Seeker, a sloppy one, but they have one.”
Slowly, Albus closed his eyes, wishing he could just disappear under the table before his mum spoke up: “I think that’s good. Going for Seeker or another position?”
He reopened his eyes to look up at his mum, who had a small smile on her face. “Seeker. We have one, but Annie says that Matt wants to replace Dominick so he might do a full team tryout.”
“How do you already know who’s captain for Slytherin?!”
He sighed, “Previous Captain chooses the new one. Annie’s brother Aiden was the old one and he said that he chose Matt. And apparently he’s been speaking about it and said that was what he was planning on doing.”
“Well...will you want to take your broom with you?”
He shook his head, “I’ll send a letter if I make the team, otherwise I’ll be bringing it for no reason and it will just be stuck under my bed all year and I’ll forget about it.”
“Well, there’s only one place where we can get all you two need, Diagon Alley.”
Albus nodded, and fiddled with his spoon once more, some sinking feeling settling in him as the thought of school starting back soon settled in him.
--------
Albus silently stood by his dad as he searched for Albus’s defense book. Lily was with their mum, looking for James’s things, while James was off with his friends at their Uncle’s shop. He hadn’t been paying much attention until he heard the voice of someone saying his dads name. He held back an eyeroll, thinking it was someone that was a fan or who he had gone to school with.
Albus just continued to look through the shelf trying to find the book until he felt someone punch his shoulder. He sharply looked, annoyed and about to say something when he saw it was just Scorpius. Not one of James and not one of his friends or cronies.
“I said your name like, five times dude. It was like you were in another world or something.”
“Sorry, trying to find the stupid defense book for this year.” He glanced over to his dad, seeing him talking to a man with long silvery-blonde hair, noting it was Draco Malfoy, before looking back at Scorpius. “Have you ever seen or heard of our dads talking?”
He snorted, “Nope. I knew our mums have, on occasion. My mum said that after we both had sent letters that we had made friends with each other, they ran into one another here in Diagon Alley and got talking. Mum jokes that they’re friends now and are trying to recruit Aunt Dany to join.”
Albus laughed, “So our mums found out we were friends and used that as an excuse to become friends?”
Scorpius joined in the laughter, “Yeah. I guess so.”
Albus sighed as the laughter faded, “Have you seen Annie?”
“Nah. Her family will probably come later so that they can ensure Nick will fall asleep without a fuss. Or at least that was what she told me last year when it took forever for her to join us.” Scorpius brushed his hair from his face, “By the way, did you know that her brother, Tony, works at Slug and Jiggers Apothecary?”
“No. Had no clue.”
Scorpius nodded, “Yeah, found that out the other day when my dad said something. Apparently he started not long after school got out. Surprised she didn’t tell you when you stayed over after the wedding.”
Albus shrugged, “We didn’t really talk about stuff like that.”
Scorpius nodded, “Well, anyways, the book is here--” He lifted his hand over Albus’s head and reached to grab a book over him. “Took dad and I forever to find it ourselves. Shocked you didn’t know since James already needed it.”
“Different book from two years ago, otherwise I would just use his. Assuming he didn’t write anything stu--wait, you said our moms are friends and are trying to recruit Annie’s mom; what does that mean? Are they gonna make some weird club together? Take over our friendship or some other absurd sounding thing.”
Scorpius snorted, “Yeah. Sure. I think that they’re more planning on making sure that they can all put out the same punishment whenever we get in trouble.”
Albus nodded and looked over to the side, “There she is.” He ignored the sound Scorpius made as Albus moved past him to get to Annie. As he made his way closer to the girl that was still slightly taller than him. “Keeping the hair dark?”
She turned and rolled her eyes, “Yeah.” She wrapped and adjusted her robe around herself, “Where’re your parents?” He saw her glance behind him, “And yours. My mum was actually looking for yours.”
He glanced behind him, seeing Scorpius mere meters behind him before he heavily sighed. “Why are you both taller than me? It’s so bloody unfair.”
--------
Albus sighed as he closed Casper’s cage, his parents had agreed to allow him to take his ferret this year after saying no last year. He understood why he had to leave her, he was sure that he would have lost her at some point during the year. He ran a hand through his hair, holding back a groan as it slightly got stuck. He heard a knock at his door, pulling his hand out of his tangled hair, he turned to see his dad in his doorway.
“We’re about to leave, you have everything? Books, wand, clothes?”
Albus held back an eye roll, albeit a playful one, but he still was not sure on how his dad would react to it. “Yes dad. I have everything.”
Harry nodded, “Good.” Albus watched as his dad tapped on the wall before he spoke again. “You know...your mum and I talked and we decided that you kids can redecorate your rooms come next summer. We can repaint these walls and put up some new posters if you’d like.”
Albus tilted his head to the side while sitting on the edge of the bed. “Why?”
His dad sighed heavily, “Well...we noticed that you took down a lot of your old banners and posters so we thought that you, as well as your siblings, could do with a change in your room. Hasn’t happened since you were younger. Lily’s room is stuck like a five year olds...not that I think she minds.” His dad added the last bit with a small laugh and Albus joined in.
“I think Lil’s likes it because she still enjoys all the pink and glitter and fairy-princessness of it all.”
“And you?”
He looked at his dad oddly, “What?”
“Do you still like your set-up? The walls are a pretty dark red, very...”
His dad trailed off but Albus knew what he meant. “Very Gryffindor? Something I’m not?”
“I didn’t mean it like that, I want you to--”
“I know dad. And I think that it would be nice to change things up, make things more me now.” He looked down for a moment before continuing, “That is if you and mum are alright if I wanted to change the color of my room.”
His dad shrugged, “I don’t mind. That is part of the point of it all. If any of you kids want to repaint the room and change it completely, then that’s alright. We’ll do it. You three are of the age where change happens. You’ll be 13 when you come back for the summer, it’s only right.”
Albus nodded, “So even if I decided to go like a dark green and hang up Slytherin banners...you wouldn’t care?”
His dad shrugged, “Not my place nor my job to do so. My job is to make sure you’re happy and healthy. Your mum and I agree that allowing you to change your room up however you want is a way to make sure that you’re happy and in the long run healthy.” He watched as his dad adjusted his glasses, “You know...your mum and I are happy for you. Happy that you made friends and are happy in your house. I know James hasn’t been the best, but--”
Albus let out a heavy sigh, “Dad...let’s not.” He let out the best smile that he could, “Let’s just get going before mom gets upset, yeah?”
His dad nodded, “Yeah...yeah okay.”
--------
Albus held his breath as he ran through the wall, safely making it to the platform. He let out the inhaled air with a puff as he made his way over to the familiar red sea. A familiar sea that left some odd feeling in his stomach. A feeling of...of something he couldn’t tell. Something that perhaps his 12-year-old mind couldn’t comprehend just yet. Or perhaps it was a feeling that it could, but refused to. Refused because of course he was happy to see some of them. He sighed as he got closer. Some of his Uncles and Aunts and maybe even a cousin or two. But as he grew closer, as he grew nearer to James and Fred, the pair locked in a conversation and throwing looks his way, the feeling grew.
“There’s the final three Potters. Or two Potters and Weasley.”
He looked behind him, forgetting his mum and sister had been behind him. He turned back, looking at his Aunt and Uncle, an almost forced smile on his lips as he tried not to let it slip of his nerves. “Hey Uncle George, Aunt Angelina.”
Angelina smiled. It was gentle. Not as gentle as his Aunt Audrey’s nor his own mothers whenever he was comforting him. But it was still gentle. Gentle in her own way he supposed. “You ready for this year, Albus?”
He shrugged, “I guess, I just can’t wait for Annie to drag me to study again.” He rolled his eyes, “But I’m trying out for Quidditch this year...if they’re looking for a Seeker, that is.”
“Aw, why don’t you go out to be a Beater? Sure you’d be pretty good at it. Make me, your Uncle George, proud!”
He laughed, genuinely laughed and rolled his eyes again. “Have I ever actually played as the Beater and been good? I thought we had all been in agreement that I can be a Chaser or a Seeker and that is it.”
He looked at his Uncle, waiting for his response, smiling slightly as the older man simply nodded. “Alright...you got me there.” He watched his Uncle sigh and move to grab Albus’s trunk, “Lemme get that for you, that way your poor mother doesn’t have to get it.”
Even without seeing his mum, he could feel the eyeroll she gave. “George, I am almost certain I could take you in a fight if I wanted.”
His Uncle scoffed as he handed the cage that held Casper to Albus. “Depends on the type. Magic I think we could go to a draw, but hand-to-hand,” He tossed the trunk into the train and turned back to Albus’s mum. “I think it would depend on the day. And since I just realized you decided to wear heels today, I will concede before my beautiful wife has to be embarrassed as she drags me out.”
Albus looked away and began to look around the platform as he heard his mum say something back to his Uncle. He let out a breath as he tried to find the dark hair of Annie or the light one of Scorpius. But he kept finding himself unlucky. He couldn’t locate the large family that belonged to one of his best friends nor could he find any older man with freakishly white-blonde hair that belonged to the father of his other friend.
He jumped as he felt someone put their arm around his shoulders, terrified for some reason that it might have been James or Fred or one of their other friends. Only relaxing as he heard the familiar voice of Scorpius. “Okay, so, Robyn already has a compartment ready for us but she said that if we don’t get there within five minutes of the train leaving and some of the older kids try to take it, she’ll let them.”
He laughed slightly and looked at his friend who was just barely taller than him. But still tall enough that he had to glance up slightly at him. “Is Annie with her or...?”
“Because you totally don’t feel the person standing behind you, do you?”
He laughed slightly as he turned, “Do I get points if I say yes?”
She snorted, “Nope.”
“Well that sucks.”
“Yeah, it does.” She smiled almost goofily, “You ready?”
“Just gotta say bye to my family then I will.”
“Then hurry up. I don’t want Rob to lose our compartment.”
As Annie smacked Scorpius’s arm, Albus turned to his mum, who had a small smile on her face. He knew how she was so he gently hugged her. That unease he had been feeling drifted momentarily as he felt her arms around him. Felt a love he hadn’t felt from her since he was a child and was hurt. Similar but also different from the hug she had given him last year.
He felt her squeeze tightly and as she pulled away, he smiled. “I’ll see you at Christmas.”
She gently put her hand on his cheek, “I’ll miss you sweetheart. Be good and don’t get into any fights.” She kissed his temple, “Or at least don’t get caught.”
He smiled at her, “I got it mum. I will try not to get caught when I get into trouble.”
She scrunched her nose, “Good.”
He turned to his dad, some weird tension having grown during the drive to the station, leading to a weird feeling as he looked at him. “See you later dad.”
His dad nodded, “Let us know if you make the team.”
“I will.” He looked at Lily, who still had a minor sour look on her face. He playfully punched her shoulder, “I’ll write to you everyday, telling you how amazing Hogwarts is.”
“You promise?”
“Promise.”
“You promised last year and you didn’t.”
He sighed, “Well I will try this year, how about that?”
She glared slightly before nodding, “Fine. but you have to tell me if you make the team. I don’t wanna hear it from mum or dad or someone else. I wanna hear it from you.”
He rolled his eyes and began to walk back to his friends, “I’ll try! But if it’s between you or mum killing me, I’d rather you cause I can bribe you!”
“Can not!”
He laughed as he jumped into the train door, looking back at her and yelling out: “Can too!” Before he fully entered the train.
He quickly moved around and followed his two friends down to the compartment Robyn had apparently been saving. Barely getting there as the train jerked into motion, sending him to fall into the spot across from the twins, Annie sliding into his side.
He glanced out of the window, just as the train zipped out of the station and he could see the open green of...he actually wasn’t sure where it was meant to be. But he looked away from the window as he heard Scorpius let out a sigh:
“Man, I wish I had siblings.”
Albus snorted Robyn and Annie busted out into laughter. He looked at his friend, seeing the look of confusion on his face and let out an almost choked back breath. “Don’t tell me you’re questioning why we’re laughing.”
“I am. I don’t see what’s wrong with wanting siblings.”
“I’d gladly trade places with you, Scor. You can take my 14 siblings and I will graciously take your parents as mine.”
“That’s not what I meant! I meant one or two. Not the 14 that you have.” Scorpius moved and leaned his back against the glass that allowed people to look in. “I just meant that it would be nice to have someone else around my age in the house. Like...sure, I hear you guys complaining about your siblings all the time, Robyn and Rohyn do it in front of one another even, but I just...I dunno, maybe I’m ridiculous.”
Albus threw his friend a small sympathetic smile. “Nah, I get it. You see us with siblings and want it, it makes sense.” He sighed before continuing, “I honestly envy you. No siblings to hate you just ‘cause of your friends and your house. Must be a blessing.”
“James still causing you issues cause you’re a Slytherin?”
He nodded, “Yeah...it wasn’t as bad as it could have been since we didn’t see each other most of the summer, but when we did...” He trailed off, not really wanting to think about it. “But Lily was excited for me to be home. She’s jealous that I get to go to Hogwarts and she still has to stay home. Plus she hates that I get to try out for the Quidditch team.”
“Dude! You’re trying out too?! Didya hear that Matt’s gonna make everyone try out so now any and everybody has a chance?”
Albus nodded, “Yeah, otherwise there would be no way I would even try.” He scratched the back of his neck, “Annie and Scorpius actually had to convince me to even try out anyways.”
“Seriously? You have like...Quidditch royalty in your blood! Your dad was literally the youngest Seeker in a century, making the team as a first year which never happens! Your mum was a world class badass Chaser for the Harpies! Half of their fans now are because of her! How could you even think of not trying out?!”
Albus shrugged, not feeling like disclosing that he didn’t want to try for Chaser and be compared to James since he was switching positions this year with Jason. Albus had heard all about it all summer. Of course, he knew that there was a chance for people to say something about him going for Seeker when that was what James used to be, but he could only hope that it would be against James. Hope that someone would say something about him switching cause he was scared to go against Albus. That was all the 12-year-old could hope for.
And sure, if it was just Annie and Scorpius, or just Annie herself, he would say that. But it wasn’t just them. It was two other people. Two people that he considered friends but not that he knew well enough to say things such as that to. To let his fears be known to them. His thoughts out to them.
Then again...he really didn’t even let Scor or Annie know so why would he even think to let Robyn and Rohyn know?
--------
The sun was slowly being hidden by incoming clouds as Scorpius, Albus, and Rohyn talked about Quidditch tryouts and Annie sat on the floor, back to the window, reading a muggle book called Percy Jackson. Robyn was on the opposite couch from the boys, talking to Holly Goyle, who had shown up not long after the train ride had started. They all stopped what they were doing, however, when they heard the compartment door open and saw a small boy with deep blue eyes, and blonde hair similar to Scorpius.
Albus raised a brow at his cousin, “Hey Louis, what’s up?”
The younger boy looked around the compartment almost nervously before focusing on Albus. “Can I sit with you guys? James keeps talking about how bad it would be if we weren’t in Gryffindor and it’s making me uncomfortable.”
Albus smiled, understanding the boy's uncomfortableness. “Yeah.”
Robyn scooted over, making room for him. “You can sit here, if you’d like.”
He nodded and quickly took the seat, letting out a quiet thanks, before looking back at his cousin again. “Thanks, Albus.”
Albus shrugged, “No problem. Pretty sure none of us here care about you joining us.” He looked around at the other Slytherin’s in the compartment, all of them shaking their heads, and he smiled at his cousin. “And besides, being in another house besides Gryffindor is so much more fun. You can learn stuff about a house that you didn’t know. And you can make friends that aren’t friends with someone in our family.”
Louis tried to smile, it came out awkward and almost off. “Thanks.”
Albus nodded as everyone went back to what they had been doing before. Louis even got Annie to look from her book as he had read the very same series over the past few summers. Everyone was in their own worlds, not paying attention to the people they weren’t interacting with, until they heard the sound of the old witch that pushed the trolley around.
Annie was the one who stood as the lady looked into their compartment, “Anything from the Trolly dears?”
She grabbed a sack from her bag that was wrapped around her waist before beginning to list off what they had all agreed on at the start of the ride (plus what Louis had asked for after he had gotten on). “Seven bottles of Pumpkin Juice, a box of Bertie Bott's, three Chocolate Frogs--wait no, four Chocolate Frogs, three packages of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, and six Pumpkin Pastries.”
“Will that be all?”
She nodded, “Yes ma’am.”
“That’ll be two galleons and 15 sickles dear.” She counted the amount of sickles out and handed it to the witch and she handed her the candies and drinks.
Annie turned back and began handing everything out to everyone. She handed the beans and the gum to Albus, the Chocolate Frogs to Scorpius, the Pumpkin Pastries to Louis, Robyn, and Holly, while taking the Pumpkin Juice herself.
“Damn,” Albus cursed, “I got another one of my dads.”
“I got Rowena Ravenclaw.” Louis mumbled.
“Oooo, maybe that means you’ll be a Ravenclaw.” Holly teased.
Louis laughed, “Maybe.”
Rohyn showed Albus the card that he had gotten, “Look at that, I got your namesake Albus.”
Albus groaned, “I really wish I knew why my dad named me after him.”
Louis laughed, “I’m surprised Aunt Ginny let him.”
Albus was about to say something about how he wasn’t when he realized that he really...was. It was such a shock that he was allowed to be named Albus Severus. “Actually, I’m surprised my mum did too.”
“Maybe you should change your name! Something cool like....like Robin! Then you could say you’re named after a comic-book character!”
“You know Robin is a girl’s name, right?” Robyn retorted, “I mean...I would assume you do as we’ve been living together for the past 12 years. Heard mum and dad and everyone we’ve ever known called me that for just as long.”
“You know what--”
“No! No fighting! We had an agreement! No fighting until we get back!”
“I wasn’t going to--”
“You were, Robyn. I’ve known you as long as Scor. You were gonna fight him.”
Robyn scoffed and crossed her arms, “You guys are no fun.”
“We’re loads of fun. We just--”
Albus shook his head at his friends before looking at his younger cousin. Louis was looking out the window as the hills and trees flew past. Albus knew the look. The look of fear and nerves. Fear that everything was about to change. And assumed that it was. He hoped that Louis didn’t get in Gryffindor for the sake of the kid still being him. So that he wouldn’t become another James or a person who just defends him mindlessly.
So he didn’t become Rose. Become the person who Albus used to always be able to rely on. The person that Albus had called his best-friend for 11 years before he was placed in Slytherin. The person who seemed to be able to push him to the side so easily after he had been placed in a different house than her and his brother.
But he knew that unlike him, Louis had both of his sisters who would support him in a different house, no matter which it was. Afterall, Vic was a Hufflepuff and Dom went to a different school all together. He was sure that his Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur wouldn’t care. It never seemed as if either of them cared about Albus’s house.
Albus was sure that unlike him, Louis wouldn’t have to worry that his siblings would hate him for being himself.
--------
They jumped off of the train as it reached Hogsmeade Station. Everyone had changed into their robes. Robyn had put her hair up and Holly had used some clips that Annie had and put them in her hair. The 12-year-olds were ready to start their second year at Hogwarts. Just as the 11-year-old boy was ready to start his first year.
The first year started to the boats while the second years turned to make their way over to the carriages. They were about to hop in one when Robyn noticed something out in the distance. “Is that Lottie with your sister Genevieve, Anne?”
Albus and the others looked over to the carriage in front of them as Annie sighed. “Yeah. I think they became friends at Aidan and Cass’s wedding.”
“That’s so...”
“Weird? Yeah, I know. Come on, let’s go before someone else takes this carriage.”
The other five followed Annie as she climbed into the black box. When they finally settled and the carriage jerked into motion, Robyn spoke. “You guys ready for this year?”
“Yeah, I’m happy to be away from my grandfather again.” Scorpius rolled his as he mentioned him. Albus knew he had issues with the man, mostly pureblood problems, but he actually never knew how deep it went.
“Same here with my mum. She’s been so overbearing about literally everything since I started school.”
“Yeah, but your mum has always been like that though.”
Holly ran a hand through her short gingery-brown hair. “Yeah, but never this bad. It’s like I can’t do anything fun anymore.”
“My father won’t let me do shit, that’s why I always go to mum for things.”
“Aunt Danielle is the best.”
“Yeah, she is.” Annie said almost quietly and Albus shot her a questioning look and she just waved him off.
“Hey, we never asked, what was it like being surrounded by a bunch of Slytherin families, Albus?”
He laughed almost awkwardly at Rohyn’s question. “It wasn’t bad. Different from my family.”
Definitely odd as it was different from his family. He had felt a different tension from the people there. But it was a tension that had faded as time went on. By the end of the night, outside of Annie’s one aunt, Albus had felt welcomed and comfortable around all the Slytherin families. Something in him wished that he had been able to thank Mr. Malfoy more for getting him away from Annie’s aunt. Even for saying what he said. He knew he had to be careful with Annie’s Bulgarian family. They were raised differently and thought differently than everyone he had ever known.
He knew he had to put that into context whenever he thought of how rude they were to Annie.
“Well, on to a different topic, who here has newbies?” Annie and Albus both raised their hands, “And that’s Alexa and Liana for you Anne. Anyone else other than that cousin that joined us, Albus?”
“Yeah. Molly’s younger sister Lucy. Lucy’s like Louis, quiet and reserved. And then Roxanne, she’s Fred’s younger sister and has a similar outgoing personality.”
“Question. Isn’t Fred like James's best friend?”
Albus nodded, “Yeah, but he isn’t as bad.” Because he was sure that Fred wouldn’t bully Roxanne for being in Slytherin. “And honestly, Lucy gets her personality from her mum. Molly is similar to how everyone has always explained her dad when he was her age. So focused on studies and being a good student that others sort of get pushed to the side.”
The first years had entered the hall, everyone watched as Professor McGonagall sat back down, getting done explaining what Albus was sure he would learn to hate by the time his Seventh year came out. And as Professor Longbottom began to read the names, Albus noted the nerves on nearly every first year's face. And on the faces of everyone who he knew had siblings starting this year.
Professor Longbottom cleared his throat before announcing the first name, “Flint, Stephanie!”
A small girl with long black hair walked up to the hat. She looked similar enough to her brother. Hair same jet black and almost oily skin. And with that, it didn’t take long for it to yell out Slytherin. He saw the girl let out a breath as she quickly made her way over to her older brother. A smile on both of their faces as she sat by them. A twinge of jealousy hit him as he saw it. But he pushed it out. Pretending it didn’t exist.
More names were called, a guy with the last name Carlson was put in Gryffindor, “Green, Alexa!”
Albus watched as Alexa walked up to the hat, her blonde hair that looked so different from Annie’s was pulled back into twin braids. She pushed her glasses up as she sat on the stool, under the hat. After a few minutes of silence, the hat finally yelled out “Slytherin!”
He saw Annie let out a breath as her sister made her way over to the Slytherin table. Sitting next to Liam and Randy as Liana’s name was called. Liana looked like her twin. But she lacked the glasses. And her hair was down, not in braids. Almost messy like he had seen Liam and Antonio’s hair a lot. She had a nervous look on her face. More nervous than Alexa had been.
He watched hand gently coming to Annie’s shoulder before the hat yelled out; “Ravenclaw!” He could feel Annie tense under him. He looked and saw the look on all of her siblings' faces. Confusion with almost terror was written on all of them. The Slytherin’s clapped with confusion while the Ravenclaws cheered with enthusiasm.
Albus leaned forward, whispering in his friend's ear. “What’s wrong?”
Slowly, she looked back at him. “Our father is going to kill her.”
He tilted his head to the side. Surely he heard her wrong. “What do you mean?”
“He said how we would be disowned if we didn't get into Slytherin. That as Green’s we have to be in Slytherin.”
“Did he really?” She nodded and looked back to her sister at the Ravenclaw table before paying attention to the sorting.
Albus turned back to the sorting. Listening as Michael Thomas had been put into Hufflepuff. Other students were put in other houses by the time that Neville called out: “Weasley, Louis!”
He watched as Louis walked about. He could see how nervous he was. He wondered if this was how he looked as he walked to the hat. Wondered if everyone could tell how scared he had been to be put into a different house. Wondered if they had seen how he felt at the same moment his cousin was at. And when the hat yelled out: “Ravenclaw!” For the 11-year-old, Albus let out a breath he hadn’t even realized he had been holding in.
Perhaps being in Ravenclaw would be easier for him than it was for Albus to be Slytherin. Afterall, James wouldn’t be able to easily or quickly find an excuse to hate him. Afterall, Ravenclaw wasn’t considered the “bad guy” house. And perhaps the tinge of jealousy that Albus could feel wouldn’t come out, but he knew that it would.
All of Albus’s emotions were going to bubble over one day.
--------
Both Roxanne and Lucy had been sorted into Gryffindor. Alexa was sitting with Stephanie Flint, tears evident on her face. Albus sat between Annie and Scorpius while the latter traded chocolate frog cards with Rohyn. He saw Annie continuously looking over at her sister, he knew that she wanted to talk to her. But he also knew that she wouldn’t. That was a way that they were similar. Neither of them really expressed their emotions and thoughts how they should.
And truthfully, Albus knew that it wasn’t a bright thing for the two 12-year-olds to do, but he also knew that he wouldn’t be able to help it.
“I asked this question about this year, but what about next year? Does anyone have anyone that they know starting next year? Siblings, cousins, an aunt or uncle that for some reason is barely younger?” Albus held back a laugh as Robyn said that last bit.
Charlotte Montague leaned back, head hitting Scorpius’s shoulder. “My sister Megan is.”
He looked from her back to Robyn, “My sister and cousin are.”
He heard Jordan Boles let out a choked laugh, “Bloody hell Albus, how many people in your family do you have? I thought Annie was the one with the huge family!”
He chuckled before sighing, thinking about it in his head. “I have nine cousins on my mum’s side, four on my dad’s, as well as two siblings.”
“So 14 cousins and two siblings?”
“Yep.”
“How are each of them related to you?”
He looked at Charlotte, “Well...obviously my siblings are from my parents. James being older and Lily younger. Then technically there’s Teddy who’s my dads godson, but he’s basically my brother...even though it’s weird as he’s dating Victoire. But anyways. Vic, Dominique, and Louis are all from my Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur. And then Molly and Lucy are from my Uncle Percy and Aunt Audrey. Rose and Hugo, who is the other one starting next year, are from my Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione. And then my dad’s cousin, Dudley, had four kids. But they’re all muggles so it’s not like you’d be seeing them here anytime soon.”
“Either way, what’re their names?”
He looked at Holly, “Uh...there’s Daisy who’s James’s age. Then Bryce, who I think is my age. Then Ariel and Lena are twins and are...four years younger? I’m not entirely sure honestly. I don’t see them often and dad doesn’t bring that side of the family up much.”
But Albus wished he did. He wondered if perhaps he would get along with them more than he did James and some of his other cousins nowadays. If they wouldn’t judge him cause what would they know about the wizarding world? He was sure Dudley wouldn’t have told them anything. He remembered his Great Aunt Petunia’s funeral two years ago. They had done everything in order to appear as a normal muggle family. Lied and said that James was going to a private boarding school in Scotland. That it was the same Harry had gone to.
Albus was certain that people who didn’t know him, who didn’t know the Wizarding world and didn’t know to hate Slytherin’s, would like him.
What else could he do? Say people who don’t know him won’t like him? That would just confirm his anxiety that it wasn’t his house. That Albus was truthfully just unlikeable nowadays.
Chapter 12. I'll Do Anything to Make You Stay
I do not own Harry Potter, if I did then Fleur wouldn’t get as much hate as she does by everyone
Alrighty, so, the Second Year will have more interactions with other Slytherins in the same year/other years, as well as other houses. Here is a link to a PDF of those families
The way that this is titled what it is because of what I have planned for the future and you guys don’t know that makes me giggle heavily.
Anyways, this is also posted onto my Fanfiction.net account SomeKind0fMagic and my Wattpad somekindofmagic1 and my AO3 account s0m3kind0fmagic so you can check it out on there too!
But anywho, hope you enjoy!
Love Z <3
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Albus stared at the robes hanging from his door. Dress robes. The epitome of wizarding formal wear. In Albus’s opinion they were itchy and stuffy and never fun to wear. And he found it overly ridiculous that he had to wear them considering that Cass’s family wasn’t from the wizarding world and would be wearing normal muggle attire. But he guessed that he understood it. Annie had said that she was told it was so that Cass’s family could see some of the wizarding world things and that he was able to change once the ceremony was over.
Although still annoyed that he had to wear them, he grabbed the robes off of the door before begrudgingly put each layer on. He wished that there was a summer version of them, perhaps then he would be able to move when in them and not feel like he was going to burn alive. Once he had all the layers on, he stared at himself in the mirror, a small look of disgust was written on his face.
He sighed deeply as he adjusted the tie part, “For Annie, I’m doing this for her.”
As he heard his mum’s laugh, he jumped. “Sorry, sorry. I just find it rather amusing that you’re doing something like this for a friend.”
Albus shrugged as he looked at her, “It’s not just for her. It’s also for Cass. She wanted all of us from the wizarding world to wear these robes for the ceremony. We can change afterwards so I have a set of muggle dressing clothes to change into.”
She smiled, similarly to a smirk. “Well, we better get going.” she grabbed his bag off of his chair and tossed it at him, “Her mother is going to drop you off in the morning, yes?” He nodded, “Alright, then let’s get going, don’t want you to be late.” She pushed open the front door of the manor and let him out. “You must dance with her at least once.”
“Mother!”
She looked upon Albus, “Don’t ‘mother’ me, you know I despise being called that. But still, you better.”
He shot her a small glare, “Fine, I will.”
She smiled at him, holding her arm out for his. “Then let’s go.” He wrapped his arm in hers and soon felt the sickening feeling of appartating come at him. But as usually, as soon as it started, it ended and his feet were firmly on the ground. He stared as he saw a large black gate opened. His mother let go of him and he looked at her, “Remember to be respectful and behave, alright?” He nodded and she smiled before gently kissing his temple. “Now, I believe I see a girl with short dark hair running over here.”
He looked over to where his mother was posting and sure enough he saw the short black-fading brown-hair in a deep purple dress running towards him. He began to wonder if there was magic thrown or something since it seemed that as soon as he saw her she appeared directly in front of him and tackled him in a hug.
“You made it on time! I never thought that would happen!”
He let out a fake offended gasp. “Just because I’m late to 90% of classes doesn’t mean I can’t be on time or even early to something.”
She pulled away, mouth pulled into a wide smile. “I guess that’s always true.”
His mother let out a breath from behind him, “Well, I better be off. Lily needs new clothes, apparently James and Fred destroyed all of hers.”
He looked at her and nodded, “Okay,” He hugged her quickly, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow.” She pulled away and tapped his shoulder, “Be safe and remember your manners.”
Albus nodded, holding back an eye roll. “Okay, mum.”
She made a small wave of her wand and left. He looked back at his friend and saw that her hand was out, “C’mon, let’s go get your stuff put up and you can meet my family before even more people arrive and things.”
He smiled and grabbed his bag that had fallen onto the ground, motioning towards the other side of the gate. “Show me the way, I guess.”
The second he took her hand, she pulled him and they both started running towards what he began to see was a manor coming up. He stared at the outside, it was similar to his own home, just...newer looking. He guessed that it was possible, renovations or them getting it more recently than the Potter’s had.
Before she could even put her hand to push the door open, he opened for them. He looked at her, quizzically. She smiled, “Magic. Mum put a spell on all the doors so that they will open when someone approaches...well all but the one that leads to the back where the ceremony will be. But that’s really only so when Cassie comes out.” She pointed to a set of stairs in the back, “C’mon, my mum is helping my younger sisters get ready in her room, we’ll pass my room on the way so you can toss your bags in there.”
He nodded and followed her up the stairs, tossing his bag in the room that she pointed to before continuing to follow until they made it all the way to the back. He watched as she pushed the door open before she grabbed his hand and pulled him in.
“Mum? Albus is here.”
He saw her mother turn, her blonde hair was pulled up into something that resembled a ponytail but more elegant. He stared at her dress, instead of Annie’s dark purple, which was close to a dark plum (or at least that was what he thought the color was as his Aunt Fleur had described it once), her mothers was a lilac, color similar to flower that grew in the gardens behind his house. She had a soft smile on her face as she looked at him.
“Albus.” Her voice was gentle, “Hello dear. I see Annie told you the dresscode, hopefully you’ll be better than my sons. All I have been hearing is their complaints over having to dress robes.” He watched the older woman roll her eyes before turning back to focus on the young girl with black hair. “Even as I remind them that they will be allowed to change once it is time for the reception. I do wonder where they get their brains from because clearly something went wrong with them compared to their sisters.” He watched as she finished putting flowers in the girl's hair and looked back at him. “What’s going on with your hair?”
His eyes widened and he instinctively brought his hand up to touch it, he was about to say something when Annie spoke up. “Oh trust me, this is better than normal. You should see it most days. His mum said that I got it the flattest she had ever seen last week at the World Cup.”
Her mother hummed, “Well, I suppose it will have to do.” She sighed heavily, “Annie, why don’t you introduce your sisters to Albus. I’m going to check on your brothers and see how they’re getting on, make sure everyone is being nice to Nick.” She smiled as she moved to leave the room, gently patting his shoulder on her way out.
From the corner of his eyes, he saw Annie groan and dramatically roll her eyes. “Those two right there, the blondes that look identical are Alexa and Liana. Lexa is the one with glasses.” He saw the two girls give small notions to say hello. He waved back slightly as Annie continued, “Next would be Clara, that one she’s playing with is Eden. the youngest sister.” Neither girl looked at him, both just playing around with one another. “Elina is the one with the braids and Odette is the one with black hair. And then that is all of my sisters, you already know Genevieve.”
He nodded and did a small wave to them, most just ignored him, continuing with what they were doing. Genevieve, however, smirked at him and spoke. “Surprised that you showed, Potter. Didn’t think your family would let you out and about with us Slytherin families.”
He felt him beginning to dig his nails into the skin of his palm at Genevieve’s comment. “My mum and dad don’t care. It’s really just a James thing.”
“Really? Heard Ronald Weasley wasn’t too fond of our house either.”
He looked away from her, his anger beginning to bubble up to the surface as he felt Annie grab his arm and pull him out. Deafly he heard Annie say something back to her sister before they fully exited the room. But once they were out, he heard as Annie began to angrily go on about her sister.
“--I just don’t bloody understand why she is being like this. She’s so annoying about how this all has become in the past several weeks since we came back and I just--ugh! I wish she could learn how to treat people like you should and not like trash then maybe she might actually have some friends and people who like her.”
He simply stayed quiet as she pushed the door to her room open more. He watched her practically throw herself on her bed, a heavy sigh coming out of her mouth as she pushed herself up again. “How have things been over at the Potter house?”
He shrugged, “It’s been alright. James has been out with his friends most of the time so I haven’t had to deal with him much.”
He kept the fact of what Teddy and Vic had said a secret, what he had thought afterwards was something he still kept to himself. He didn’t want anyone to know what had happened, at least not yet. He felt like it would be a bother, him letting anyone know what he was feeling. Thought it would be better to just keep it to himself to not tell anyone a thing.
“That’s good.” She pushed hair from her face, “Mum said that once it hits 8, we can start to head up for bed. That’s when things are supposed to start dying down.” She sighed, “I dunno how true that is. If we're allowed to leave soon or later or whatever but that’s currently the idea of what’s gonna happen to us in the end.”
He nodded and smiled to himself out of slight self amusement and also embarrassment, “You know...I’ve never actually been to a wedding before. I’m the second youngest grandson, fourth overall. Everyone was married by the time I was born.”
“Oh!” She stared at him in surprise, “Really? No cousins or anything?”
He shook his head, leaning against her dresser. “My dads cousin got married before and my mum doesn’t really have any that she would have gone to.”
Annie nodded, “Well, basically, you sit through this ceremony, where they get married and say their vows and all that mushy stuff.” She adjusted herself on her bed, “After they kiss and walk back up the aisle together and do...something behind closed doors, while everyone else heads to where the reception is and then we eat and I guess sort of party and celebrate.”
“Really is just all that?”
“Yeah, but it still feels like ages though. It can be bloody miserable. But mum and dad put up some spells to get everyone cooled.”
“So how many people are gonna be out there?”
She sighed and leaned her head back, as though trying to think before saying, “For the people that you would know it’s the Malfoy’s, so that’s Scor, his parents, and his grandmother. Zabini’s which is just Lorene and her parents. Avery’s, which definitely includes Oli, Liv, Hol, and their parents. The two youngest, Amellia and Isabella may or may not, their 8 and I dunno if Aunt Stephanie wants them here. Then the Goyles, Char and the twins plus their parents, I know that Felix and Seren are being watched by Aunt Millicent’s mum and dad. The Notts, so Keely, her brother Charles, and their parents. The Boles, so Lizzie, Jordan, and their parents. Then finally the Montagues, that includes all the ones you know plus their parents plus Megan and George and Oli. The youngest two are staying back with Uncle Graham’s mum.”
He nodded, “What about the people I don’t know.”
“Well, that would be my family; aunts and uncles and grandparents and cousins from both sides. You’ll easily be able to tell them apart, trust me. And there will be more people from my mum’s side than my dads. My dad was an only child but I have Great Aunts and Uncles who have kids; hence the aunts and uncles and cousins from both sides.” He nodded, picking up a small figure off of her dresser, it was covered in different colors. As if it had been painted by a child. “Then there’s Cassie’s family. Her mum and dad and sister plus I think maybe her grandparents or an aunt or uncle or two. This whole show for you boys to wear dress robes is mostly for her small amount of her family that are here.”
He looked at her curiously, “Why is most of her family not here?”
“They either don’t believe or don’t agree with her being a witch. Most of them are really old thinkers. Believe it’s satanic and all to be a witch.”
He made a face before setting the small figure back down, “Seriously?”
“Yeah, it’s bloody ridiculous if you ask me, but not much we can do about it.” She pushed hair from her face again, “That was a mermaid by the way. I painted it when I was like...3 or 4. I don’t really remember. But mum took all of us to go paint little figurines. Me being me, I naturally chose a mermaid.”
He smiled, “It looked...interesting.”
“What a nice way to say it looks horrible.”
“No. No. It doesn’t look horrible, just interesting.” He brushed his own hair out of his face, “You can definitely tell a child painted it. Which isn’t totally bad, it just is rather...interesting.”
“I hate you. I want you to know that.”
He smiled goofily, “No you don’t. You love me.”
She shook her head and rolled her eyes as someone knocked on her door. The two looked over and saw her mother standing in the doorway. “The wedding is starting soon. Annie, Aidan is about to go out and if you want to be his best person without your father’s complaints, I would head down now. I can show Albus where he is meant to sit.”
Annie nodded and quickly made her way out of the room while Albus slowly made his way over to her mum. For the most part, he stayed silent as he followed her down. He didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t sure if it was even right for him to say something to her, he had only just met her and really didn’t know much about her except for what Annie had told him, and even that wouldn’t help him much.
“I’m happy Annie met you, Albus.”
“What?”
He heard her mum laugh before repeating herself, “I just said that I’m happy that Annie met you. She seems happier since you came into her life.”
“Oh. I hadn't noticed.”
“Oh, it really isn’t all that noticeable, just something a mother would notice.” She stopped by a row and turned to smile at him, “You’re sitting here, next to Scorpius and his family. Annie demanded you to be with them.”
He looked over and saw the face of his other friend looking bored as ever and hadn’t even noticed him there. “Right, thank you, Mrs. Green.”
“Of course, I shall see you after the ceremony.”
He nodded before taking his seat next to his friend, he looked over and saw that his friend was still seemingly somewhere else. Albus faked an offended scoff, “And here I thought that I was your friend, Scorpius. But yet I sit down and I don’t even get a measly hello. Maybe Annie was wrong to put me by you.”
The blonde’s head snapped over to him, “You’re the worst, Al.”
“No, that’s Annie.”
Scorpius laughed slightly, “Yeah, I guess so.” He sighed and looked up for a moment, “I cannot believe we have to wear these stupid robes. Most of Cass’s family isn’t even here.”
“Scorpius, you can change after the ceremony, until then, stop complaining. It could be so much worse. Her parents could have decided to not make sure it was cool in here for us.” Albus looked over and saw a very pretty dark haired woman looking over at the two of them. He had seen her before, in the Prophet. It was Scor’s mum.
“Yes mum.”
She smiled over at Albus, holding her hand out for him to shake. “You must be Albus, I’m Astoria, Scorpius’s mum.”
Albus gently shook her hand, noting the way she wore two rings on her hand. “It’s nice to meet you too, Mrs. Malfoy.”
“Stop charming my mum, Albus.”
“I am not ‘charming her’, I’m simply being nice. Since when was that charming?”
“Since I said so?”
He was about to argue his logic when music started and a hush fell around them. Scorpius threw Albus a smug look while Albus just tossed him a small glare. He turned his head and watched as everyone came down the aisle, standing as he heard Astoria and Draco whisper to do so as the doors opened and revealed Cass. He watched as the older girl walked down the aisle. It was odd to him, his cousin was the same age as her and yet seemingly had no interests in getting married. He wondered if Vic did, would the dress be similar? Would she also have a dress without sleeves? Would it resemble a ball gown and have lace all on it?
He wondered if this was a normal thing to do, stare at someone and think of another person that was the same age. Wonder if they would be any similar if they did the same things. It was something he did often enough so he wondered if it was normal or if it was another thing about him that was wrong.
--------
Albus adjusted his tie as he stood by Annie and Scorpius. He knew that one of Annie’s aunts had come over to talk to her but he grew distracted by someone he could only assume was her cousin. She had dark hair and a gentle smile, a smile similar to Annie’s but it was much more prominent. She honestly looked like what you would think Annie would if she bore any resemblance to her mother, like her sisters did.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when he felt someone slap his arm. He began to rub the area that was hit as his head snapped over to them. “What?”
“My Aunt was just--”
“I was just trying to ask, how big is your family?” The lady had a thick Bulgarian accent and Albus barely understood the woman.
“Well...” He looked and saw the downward cast that Annie had, how she held her arms around herself. A look he began to know well as he had started to hold himself the same whenever he was alone. He cleared his throat before continuing, “My mother always taught me to not interrupt someone and you interrupted Annie so--”
“Albus it’s alright, just answer her question.” He saw Scorpius gently wrapping his arm around Annie and the way that her voice sounded made him want to disagree. But when he saw the look on her face, he realized that it would be better to not.
“I have 9 cousins on my mum's side that all come from her 6 brothers. And then two siblings myself.”
She nodded, “And how about that rumor about that Edward and Victiore being engaged, is that true?”
He shook his head, “Vic and Teddy aren’t engaged. They’re not even interested in getting married at this time.” He slowly began to glare at her, “And it isn’t nice to speculate and listen to rumors about people. Someone of your age should know that.”
He saw the anger flare on the woman’s face before he heard Scorpius’s dad’s voice and felt his hand on his shoulder. “Natalia.”
“Draco. Wonderful to see you here.”
“Yes...as you know I’ve known Peter for years and saw Aidan grow up.”
She gave him a face that was a mix of being nasty and a smirk. “Right...” She looked at Albus again before continuing, “I was mostly surprised to find a Potter here. Did not know that my sister’s family had any association with them.”
“Albus is Anne’s friend. He was invited so that she and my son would not drive us all crazy. Now, I need to escort Anne to her mother and my son and Albus are coming with me.” Albus looked up at Draco as he spoke, he noted the small look of anger on his face, a look similar to Albus’s own father when he got mad at his Uncle Ron back at Christmas.
The grip on Albus’s shoulder momentarily tightened before Draco began to turn him, “Come on you three.”
Albus quickly felt his feet move as Draco moved them away, briefly, he looked back to see if Annie’s aunt was still there and he saw her storming off in the opposite direction of them. He looked back around as they came to a halt. Albus looked at Annie and saw the look she previously had had was replaced by a look that was mixed with gratefulness and annoyance, he couldn’t point out which was the main emotion there.
“Thank you, Mr. Malfoy.” Her voice was soft, but also held annoyance in it.
“Of course, but I didn’t completely lie to you. Your mother does need you and I got sent. She’s over there by Cassie and Aidan.”
Annie turned and looked to where Draco pointed before she nodded and breathed out an “Okay.” And made her way over to them.
“As for you two, especially you Albus, don’t cause any trouble. Dany’s side of the family is not the side to anger, that’s something I only know as I’ve seen her angry. Unless someone else starts it or fully insults you or your family, I beg that neither of you argue.”
“But she interrupted--” Albus started but Draco stopped him:
“I know. I know. I don’t like that either, but you need to understand this, the families here are different from the ones you grew up with. Many still practice things in the...old way, especially the Aleksandrovs. They aren’t supremacists but some of the children have interesting ideals that clash with many of us that live here.”
“So it’s like a thing of um...” He faded off, trying to remember the word, mentally cursing as he knew Annie would know it.
“Geographical opinions. Similar to how those in lets say the Americas had no care for what was happening here with Voldemort as it didn’t affect them. The Aleksandrov’s, and many other families that send their children to Durmstrang, have strong beliefs about the war and the different families on different sides of it. It’s always just easier to avoid the conversation altogether than to encourage it. Understand?”
Albus nodded, “Yes sir.”
“No need to call me sir, I was just explaining.”
Albus nodded as he saw Anne making her way back over to them. “According to my mum, dancing is starting soon and she wants to make sure everyone has a partner.” She looked directly at him, a sheepish look on her face, “I might have told her that you agreed to be mine.” She bit her lip and played with her nails, “I’m sorry. She just asked me and your name just slipped out of my lips before I could even think and when she asked me to confirm I just dug my hole deeper by swearing you said that you would.”
He laughed slightly before shrugging, “I don’t care. I just would like to warn you before that I’m not the best dancer.”
“Neither am I, at least not with a partner. Maybe the two negatives will turn into positives?”
“Maybe?”
“Or it’ll catch on fire and burn to the ground.” The two of them looked at Scorpius, who just raised his hands in defense, “I’m just saying, best case scenario is that the two of you succeed in dancing while the worst case is you fail and fall down.”
Both of them were about to say something when Derek ran over, “Come on you two, mum is about to murder you both since you’re the only ones that haven’t made your way over. So I am now here to attempt to prevent bloodshed at our dear brother's wedding.”
Annie rolled her eyes and grabbed Albus’s hand, pulling him along and over to where he saw the whole lot of her family was gathered. He looked at who all was standing by one another, noticing that everyone who was standing there were only those who had at least started at Hogwarts, plus her sisters Liana and Alexa. The other 5 were nowhere to be seen, Albus wondered if perhaps they had been sent up to bed or perhaps they were told they couldn’t be a part of this because they were too young.
“Good, you're both here. I guess it’s time to get this party started.” Both Albus and Anneliese rolled their eyes as Aidan spoke. “Now, we have to dance for one song then we can go and do whatever, mum’s rules. Me and Cass get the first 30 seconds or so and then mum and dad join and then you kids join in whenever you think it’s right” Wrapping his arm around Cass’s waist he smiled as Mrs. Green got up and started to talk.
As the music began playing, Aidan and Cass walked on and danced, his mum and dad as well as hers soon joining them. Albus stood next to Annie, her arm looped around his, as he waited for her to make the move for them to go. He felt her grip on his arm as they started to make their way over to dance. He wasn’t used to this, Annie being scared. Everyone always says she gets scared easily, but he had never seen it before.
He awkwardly wrapped his arms around her, looking into her face, watching her eyes darting all around them. “You okay?” He whispered out, concern laced all in his voice.
“Yeah...there’s just a lot of people watching us.”
He looked around, and sure enough, there was. He looked back at her, “You’re not used to that, are you?” She shook her head and he nodded, “Well...for me distraction always helps. Wanna try it?”
“Sure.” She breathed out.
He smiled, “School starts in a month, are you ready for it?”
She nodded, “Yeah. After a while, it gets suffocating being around my family with no escape. At least at school I’m able to hide from them and do other things.”
He nodded, “I get that. I’m hoping this year is easy, that no one causes any unnecessary drama.”
“Isn’t all drama unnecessary?” She looked him in the eyes, “Spin me.”
He was about to comment on her first part when she made her request. He tilted his head to the side in confusion. “Why?”
“Just do it.” And so he did, albeit awkwardly. And as he did, a sudden fill of relief hit him as he saw a few of the other girls getting spun.
When she came back to him, he looked at her curiously, “How did you know that was about to happen?”
“I saw my grandmother spin her finger around. At every wedding I’ve been to, that she has as well, whenever she does that, everyone spins the lady around. That is assuming they see the signal.”
He nodded, “That actually makes a lot of sense.”
“Yeah.” She sighed and smiled gently, “So what else were you going to say about drama?”
“Oh. Just that you were right. Most drama is unnecessary. So I guess I’m just hoping that no drama happens, or at least not just any that has to do with me.” He laughed.
She laughed along, “Let’s hope not, I don’t think we can handle it again.”
He laughed as the song began to end and they all came to a halt in front of everyone. Once again, she looped her arm around his as they made their way over to their friends. “Thanks for coming, by the way. It means a lot.”
He shrugged, “It’s nothing. I had nothing to do. But you just need to agree to come to every wedding in my family.”
She laughed, “Alright.” She held her hand out for him to shake and he took it, “We have a deal.”
“Oh Merlin, please tell me you aren’t making deals again.”
Albus looked at Charlotte with curiosity as Annie spoke, “Oh shut up. I have never once made a bad deal. And this one doesn’t even concern you so I don’t understand why you’re commenting on it.”
“Why is there a problem with you making a deal?”
“She used to make them all the time, always made sure that she had the good end of it while the rest of us got the bad end.”
“Really?”
“Not my fault you lot suck at making deals, Holly.”
“Yeah well--”
“Ladies, why don’t we not start a fight now. I see Aunt Dany starting to get angry as she stares over at us. So unless you lot want to get yelled at later, I would suggest that you all shut it.”
As Rohyn said that everyone turned their heads to see Mrs. Green staring at the kids, her brow raised as if to dare them to do something. After a moment, they all looked back at each other and stayed silent for several seconds. That silence was only broken by everyone saying they were going to find someone else, leaving Scor, Annie, and Albus by themselves again.
“Unfortunately, I have to make my leave too. I see my mum motioning me that it’s time to go, so I will see you two later.” The blonde boy hugged his two friends before he ran over to his mother, leaving the two dark haired kids by themselves.
Annie yawned before turning to Albus, “Wanna head up? It’s getting late anyways.” He nodded and she smiled, “Let me just go tell my mum.”
--------
Albus silently sat on the edge of Annie’s bed as she changed in her bathroom. He looked around her room, looking at the different things around it. It looked like a typical 12 year olds room. Photos and clothes scattered all around. He noticed several books on the ground as well, noting that some were school books while others were personal; both from the muggle and wizarding world. He looked at the nightstand that sat by her bed, looking at the small box that sat on top of it. He picked it up, recognizing it as something for the muggle film Tangled. It was purple and had the princess Rapunzel on the sides of it. Gently, he flipped the clip up and opened it, hearing one of the songs from the film play from it.
“You like it?” He quickly closed it, looking at her, face red. She laughed, “I don’t mind, nothing in there really.” She smiled and sat across from him, “Have you ever seen it?”
He nodded, “Yeah. Lily was obsessed with it when it came out, but it was replaced by the next one. Whatever it was called.”
“Frozen?” He nodded and she hummed, gently taking the box from him and closing it. “I was obsessed with that one too, but my mum got me this before that one came out.” She placed it back where it went and leaned back against one of the poles on the side of her bed, “I did mean it. I am extremely grateful you were able to make it. It made the night more bearable.”
He smiled, “It was fun. I had fun.”
She smiled, “Good.”
He leaned his head back against her headboard, he really did have a good day, one of the better days of the summer. It was the first day since he had come back that he hadn’t had some type of fear inside of him. For the first time since he came back, that happiness that he always felt around her hit him, that feeling that had him terrified to ever lose her. And now knowing that her mum likes him as her friend, that small itch of fear hit him because what if she just changes her mind about him like James did?
Chapter 11: Let The Games Begin
I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters from it. If I did, Albus would not be named Albus.
Apologies for legit disappearing again. Last time I updated I was finishing my Junior year of High School and I just graduated about 2 weeks ago! So I finally have time (and inspiration) to get back to writing again!
If Anneliese ever seems like she just...randomly gets really aggressive, don't quesiton it. Girl is going through puberty and has a lot of things going on at home that I know about but y'all don't (at least not yet).
Also, just in case anyone noticed, I did go back and rename the previous chapters because I thought of better names okay? Okay! *thumbs up*
Anyways, this is also posted onto my Fanfction.net account SomeKind0fMagic and my Wattpad somekindofmagic1 so you can check it out on there too!
Love Z <3
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Albus screamed as his covers were torn off of him and there was a yelling in his ear. Grabbing his glasses while mumbling and annoyed, "What the hell?" He looked around his room, a breath leaving his lips as he saw the red hair of his sister and his "Lily? Annie?" He saw the red hair of his sister and the short black hair of his best friend. "What're you guys doing waking me up at," He looked at the clock and groaned, "4 AM?" He looked at them again, as the sleep fogged his brain, he grew even more puzzled as to why they were fully clothed. "And what're you guys doing dressed?"
He heard Lily gasp dramatically, "Because...today's the Quidditch World Cup!" Albus ran his hand over his face, slowly waking up still, "And Mum has to get there by 6 AM so she can start to interview the two teams!" He rolled over onto his stomach, about to pull a pillow over his head with one of them grabbing it from his hand. "Mum wants you up so we can eat together. Now hurry up! We still need to get James up!"
He grumbled about being up and everything as he heard Annie sigh, "Lily, go on and wake up James. I'll make sure Albus gets up."
He heard a humph before a slight annoyance filled voice of Lily spoke again. "Fine." As he heard her fading footsteps, he felt his eyes grow heavy again and began to feel the comfort of sleep wrap around his cold body.
But before he could be rewrapped in the comfort of sleep, he felt a hand on his ankle before feeling his entire body being yanked down the bed. He screamed and turned around, finding Annie really was still there, staring at him. "Come on Albus. Told your mum I'd get you up so," She grabbed his arms and tried to pull him up. "I'm doing it." She walked over to his closet and looked inside, trying to find clothes for him to put on. "Besides, if you don't then I'm pretty sure that James will eat all the food."
He glared at her as he slowly walked over to her and grabbed a shirt hanging. "You're cold."
She shrugged and looked at him, "I have 6 older brothers, I've learned how to get you idiots up." She crossed her arms, "So are you gonna get ready now?" He grumbled as he pulled the shirt he had on, off. Just as he pulled the clean one on, he heard her continue. "And besides, I could've gotten ice cold water to pour on you." Barely, he saw her smirk, "And I still could."
His eyes widened as he began to move much quicker. "Alright. Alright. Just gimme a minute." She nodded as he looked around and grabbed a pair of pants. He was about to pull his pajama pants off when he remembered that Annie was there. He turned to her, "Can you like...turn around?" He watched as she rolled her eyes but did what he asked. Mumbling something about it not being like she'll actually see anything.
As he slipped his pajamas off and the pants on, he watched her walk out of the closet and back into his bedroom. He let out a sigh as he made his way back into his bedroom, running a hand through his hair, attempting to smooth it. But almost as soon as he stepped out, his brush hit him square in the chest, he gave Anne a look as she just laid back onto his bed.
"Ow?"
He heard her scoff, "Please, that didn't hurt."
"It could've."
"But it didn't." She pushed herself up on her elbows and he started to try and brush out his hair. "Trust me, if my sister Elina, who is almost 6 can handle it, you, a whole 12 year old, can."
He snorted, "Whatever." He tossed his brush back onto his bed, "Let's go."
She looked at him as if he was crazy, "No. You cannot possibly think that your hair is good."
He touched his hair and looked at it through the old mirror on his wall before looking back to her, "What?"
She grabbed the brush from off his bed and pulled him back over to his bed. Sitting behind him, she began to brush through. "I would be sorry for this ending up hurting, but the fact is, this is your own creation." He mumbled something about it being okay as she ran the brush through his hair. Neither of them even noticed his mum leaning against the door. "Seriously Al, do you ever brush your hair? It's like a bird's nest here."
"I think it's genetics." He mumbled, "My mom always has complained about all of our hair. Saying that it's from our dad."
She snorted as she finished up brushing through, running her hands through his hair as she went through, a finishing part in order to get it flatter. She sighed heavily as she tossed the brush over to the other side of the bed. "I think that's the best I can get, Al. Your hair is going to be my enemy as long as we're friends."
"Should I be sorry or should I just accept fate?"
"Accept your fate and you shall die peacefully."
"That is definitely smoother than I ever have gotten it."
The two kids started laughing but both let out a small scream and jumped, both nearly falling off of his bed, as they heard his mum speak. Their laughs transferred to her as they jumped, her hands coming up with her palms out in a surrender form. "Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to scare you kids, I honestly had assumed you saw me." She sighed and pushed herself off of the wall, "If either of you want to eat before we head out, I would recommend going now. We need to leave in 10 minutes. Your dad and Uncle Ron just left plus Lily and James are currently eating so you have about 5 to get down there and get food."
As his mother said those last words, Albus practically jumped off his bed before running downstairs. Annie followed after him, shaking her head in amusement as his mother looked at them with fondness.
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Music and noises of all kinds surrounded everyone as they walked towards the site of the game. Just down the hill from the Portkey, the muddy old boot that they had been using since before Albus or even James had been born.
As they neared the tents and the people, Albus and Anne held onto Lily's hands tightly. Ginny had asked them to keep an eye on Lily, just in case there were any other reporters that would take photos of them, despite continuous wishes from Harry asking them to not take photos of his kids. The two of them knew that if they saw any camera pointed at them, they would start running (or smush her head into one of their chests).
But thankfully, that didn't have to happen. No one paid them any attention. All preoccupied with making sure that they were at their tent and everything was set up for them. Eyes more glued on the families of the players anyways. That was mostly who was there. Reporters, players and their families, plus a few Aurors and Hit Wizards. Those who chose to work the pregame instead of the main part so that they could enjoy the game with their families and friends.
Before they entered, Ginny looked at them all, "Alright, I should be back in an hour or two." She looked at all of them, well...mostly her kids and Anne. "Behave. Hermione is here if anything goes wrong, which nothing better happen. Understand?"
They all nodded, muttering agreements to be good. Anne even felt a small hint of joy that Ginny was being that way with her too. She was used to it from the parents of her other friends, but they had known her since she was born, Ginny hadn't. So the fact that she was treating her as she treated her own kids left her with a small sense of joy, something even Albus could see.
As she walked away, the four kids walked into the tent. James quickly made his way over to Rose and Hugo while the other three walked over to sit by Hermione. They watched in amusement as the other three began to place bets on who would win. But Albus felt a small tinge of guilt and envy as he watched them.
Guilt because Lily should be with them. She should be sitting with him and his friend. She shouldn't already be outcasting herself from their family just because they outcast him for his house. He felt as if she shouldn't be doing that. That she should be betting with them. He had seen the way that her and Hugo hadn't been as close as they always had been. Guilt ate at him, terrified that it was because of him. He knew that even at age 10, Hugo wanted nothing more than to have the acceptance of his dad. Something Albus was growing to understand.
A growing wish to be able to not disappoint his parents. But feeling like he wouldn't be able to just because of what house he was in. Something he hoped that Lily wouldn't have to feel.
And he was envious of them. Envious that they were laughing and playing with each other. He could only think about how that was him and Rose just a year ago. Laughing. Playing. Being friends. He didn't...couldn't understand why they now hated him because he was in Slytherin. Their parents, especially his and James', had raised them without that prejudice. Raised them to understand that house doesn't define a person, their actions do.
Him being friends with Scorpius Malfoy shouldn't have cost him his brother as well as his favorite cousin and best friend.
Deep down, he knew that he shouldn't be 12 years old and feeling all of these feelings. But he did and he couldn't control it. All he could do was hide it and pretend that he was okay. Because he was. Or at least he will be.
"--Yeah? Well at least Albus and Rose only have to wait 2 months before he can try out for the team! I have to wait another whole two years! It's totally unfair!"
Albus blinked his eyes a few times, trying to focus back into the moment. Not even having realized he had zoned out. "You're trying out Al?"
He shrugged, mind catching up and realizing that they were talking about Quidditch and tryouts for the house teams. "Yeah, I decided why not. I mean, there's no guarantee I'll make it. Slytherin isn't known for accepting second years plus don't we still have a Seeker?"
"Yeah? And? No one likes Dom on the team. He was just the only person that came close to being good. We've barely won a single game since he joined. Plus you have like...this whole legacy around you. Both of your parents, your dads dad, the majority of your mum's brothers! I mean seriously, if you don't make the team, Matt is literally crazy."
He rolled his eyes, "Sure. whatever." He laid his head in his hand, "So...when are you supposed to meet up with your family?"
"Probably whenever you guys head to your seats. I'll stop by and see if they're still at our tent, if they are, then I'll stay with them. If they aren't then I'll head over to our box." She snorted slightly, "We're sharing with the Malfoy's this year. Scor and I have a bet going on how long it's gonna take for Astoria to try and smack my dad."
He laughed, holding his hand over his mouth as an attempt to silence them but he couldn't. All he knew of how Scorpius's mum was with Annie's dad came from what they had told him. To his knowledge; Mrs. Malfoy hated Annie's dad. Said he was too controlling for her liking and apparently and almost threw a punch over something he had supposedly said.
Eventually, the laughter died down and Hermione spoke, "I honestly hope that the Welsh beat the States. That team isn't really good at anything, but the fact that they always choke out at the most important games."
"Sounds like the Slytherin team. We can do good until it matters. The few times we are in the running for first or second, we, well really Dom, chokes up and lose terribly and somehow end up in last place or barely making it to third. It's bloody ridiculous."
"Well that's stupid." Lily muttered and Annie nodded, laying her head on the table in front of her.
"But it's sadly true, do they still expect ya'll to play dirty?" Hermione asked softly.
Albus shrugged, "I have no clue."
But Anne nodded, "Yeah, they do." Albus glanced over at James as Annie spoke. He saw the glare in his brother's eyes. "It's ridiculously stupid, they know we won't. We can't risk it. And yet some teams try and provoke us." She crossed her arms, "I don't even care for Quidditch much but even I find that absurd.
A small layer of silence grew in the tent, not before James jumped up and declared something. Albus honestly didn't catch it as he watched the entrance to the tent. He knew Lily got up and went with James, but his attention was focused on the flaps that kept the tent closed. He wondered how the magic worked. How that if his parents hadn't given permission for a specific person to enter, they wouldn't be able to. That they would be shot back and away from the tent. He wondered how it worked. Did it work if the person was under the influence of polyjuice? Was the magic powerful enough to catch that or not?
He wondered if he hadn't asked them to, if they would have given Annie permission to enter. If they had given Scorpius. He wondered if his parents even liked his friends, he was so sure that they liked Annie, afterall, they were allowing him to stay the night and go to her brother's wedding that next week. There would be no way that they would let him do that if they didn't like her, right?
But maybe they just pretended to like her for his sake. She was one of his only friends now. Perhaps they only liked her because of that. Because at least that was someone who liked him, despite who his family was and the fact that he was becoming someone that he swore he wouldn't.
Despite the fact that he was growing and changing and slowly realizing just how different he was from the rest of his family.
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Albus had been at the pitch for nearly 18 hours by the time he was barely in his seat, watching as the two seekers shot down in order to catch the ever illusive snitch. He saw the way that they were neck and neck, hands outstretched, trying to grab the small golden ball. He saw the bludger making it's way to the seekers, holding his breath as the seeker for the United States pulled up and the bludger hit the Welsh seeker.
Near silence surrounded him as it felt as though everyone there were silently holding their breath. Waiting to see if the Welsh seeker caught the snitch. And that exact moment that they all saw him hold the snitch in his non-injured hand, cheers and screams erupted from the crowd. Albus looked at Teddy, who he was sitting by before the older boy engulfed him in a hug.
A pure feeling of glee and joy filled him up. A feeling that he rarely felt nowadays. He wasn't sure if he felt it from his team winning the game or the hug from his pseudo brother. But he knew that he felt it and that he needed to feel it. And he also knew that the tears that gently fell from his eyes weren't from joy, but sadness. A sadness that he was so sure would never leave him now.
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It was only 10:30 when they were finally out and back at the tent. Since they were celebrating a win, no one had to start to wind down until 12:30 so there was still another 2 hours before all of the kids had to get ready to get some sleep. But Albus was starting to realize just how hard it might be to stay up as he was still catching his breath from celebrating with Vic and Teddy and Lily, his eyes growing slightly heavy as they sat in a circle and played the muggle game Go Fish. Their Aunt Hermione had brought a few packs of muggle playing cards for them in case they were wanted.
His back was against one of the couches, zoning in and out of everything going on that he barely caught Teddy's question. "How was your first year Albus?"
He shrugged, trying to think of what to say quickly. "It was alright. I mean...it was weird not being home everyday and all that. But it was fun for the most part. I made friends easily." He tried to keep out the sleepless nights following the first several weeks. The fights and slowly growing self-hatred inside of him. Hide the fact that he rarely found solace in much outside of those in his house anymore.
Teddy nodded, "That's good. I won't lie, I was shocked when Vic sent the letter informing that you had been put into Slytherin. Afterall, no one in the family really has, unless you count my grandmother but she isn't really your family and all." Teddy laughed to himself before he continued, "But once the initial shock settled, I began to question why I, and anyone else for that matter, were surprised. Slytherin house has so many good traits that you embody that I honestly couldn't imagine you anywhere else."
He looked at him inquisitively, still playing the game. "Like what?"
"For starters, you're very cunning and resourceful. You see a problem and face it headfirst, most of the time at least. You know your way around tricky situations and you take on the leadership role whenever you have to. You set goals for yourself and you make them. Or at least you did when you were younger. Plus, you tend to weigh the pros and cons before you do something. However, that one is rarer."
"Huh." He faded for a moment, as if he was trying to understand what Teddy had just said. It made sense for him to be in Slytherin? But why? Everyone acts like it was a mistake and that he was nothing like the other Slytherin's before he had joined that house. Why was Teddy sitting acrooss from him and saying that he couldn't imagine him anywhere else?
Quickly, he cleared his voice, realizing they were waiting for him to continue his thought. "I never realized I did that."
Vic and Teddy laughed and he felt a minor tinge of embarrassment. Should he have realized that already? That everyone fits into their house, regardless if they realize it when they were sorted? Should he have noticed that by the time he had finished his first year?
"Don't panic if you didn't realize that." Vic assured, "Truly, you don't realize how much you are like your house until someone points it out." She gave him a soft and gentle smile. Something he saw her give all the younger students whenever they came to her throughout the year. "I didn't realize how many Hufflepuff traits I had for myself, besides the stereotypical niceness. For my first two or three years, I had just thought that that was all I had, because everyone said that was my best trait, and just put me in Hufflepuff. Which is ironic as I was called shallow for years but yet also nice? Never quite understood that." She drew a card since Lily didn't have the card she wanted. "But, as I went on, more people began to point out how I am apparently extremely patient with everyone and everything. I, like Slytherins and other Hufflpuffs, am very dedicated to different things that I believe in. For example, I am bloody dedicated to our family and my schooling." She smiled and pulled her hair to the side, "And I'm also dedicated to becoming a Healer since I got confirmation that I made it in to start training."
"So...will I start to fit into more Slytherin traits as I finish school?"
His fear began to raise as he thought of that. Thought of the new ways that Rose and James would start to hate him because of that. Because he was more and more Slytherin and less and less Gryffindor. Would James hate him for joining the Slytherin Quidditch team after years of them planning on playing together, James as the Chaser and Albus as the Seeker. Being the best thing to ever happen to Gryffindor's Quidditch team since their dad.
Would the disappointment grow worse as he got older?
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The world was nearly silent around him as Albus laid in his bunk. All that he could hear was the occasional drunk voice of someone outside and someone inside the tent snoring. He knew that all he had to do was get up and wake Teddy up and ask to talk, but that thought scared him. What if Teddy didn't actually care and was just telling him that out of courtesy?
He turned and stared at the crimson fabric that was the wall of the tent. He wondered if Teddy was right? Did he already have a bunch of Slytherin traits? Traits that he didn't have before? Or at least that he hadn't noticed? Were these...things that made him, him. That made him Slytherin. Were these things more obvious now that he was a Slytherin? Was he really so cunning and resourceful? He didn't feel resourceful. Always having to ask Annie for help on work. Would, or more of does, he really try to make his goal, even through deception and lies? He couldn't remember ever making a goal for himself and succeeding. He wondered that when he got older, would he be so Slytherin and make his end goal through ways of anger and deceit? Would he lie in order to get what he wants?
And did he really become the leader whenever he had to? He tried to think back on a time that he did, but he couldn't remember a single time. He never was a leader, more of a follower. He had always followed James and Rose around. Always done what they did. He guessed that maybe he was the leader of his small friend group, but he would honestly rather put that to Annie than himself. She was much better at keeping everyone in line and making sure everyone did what they were supposed to.
She was the perfect example of a good and nice Slytherin. Not Albus. Albus was none of those things. He was a liar and a traitor who betrayed his family because he didn't tell the hat not Slytherin like his father had done all those years ago.
He held back a groan as he put a pillow over his ears, trying to drown them out as the seven words echoed in his head.
Cunning. Resourceful. Leadership. Goal. Achieve. Pros. Cons.
But they wouldn't go away. Those words were bouncing around in his head. Teddy's nice way of saying them turned to James' sneers. The sneers and words he had heard others say about him since he started at Hogwarts. The words got so loud that he began to think about what James had said before Annie had come over. What he had said about her coming over.
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James clenched his fists, "You're such a bloody disgrace to the family! Mum and dad fight because of your bloody house and it's causing a divide throughout the entire family! Thanks to you influencing Lily to be so Slytherin and evil like you, she's fighting with Hugo more! Petty arguments turn into full scale fights, all because of your stupid influence on her! You're nothing but a coward who hides behind older students! You'll never get anywhere with that. One day, Green's siblings will be gone and there won't be anyone to protect you at Hogwarts anymore."
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He held his pillow tightly and whispered to not cry. He didn't want to cry over something so stupid. Over something that if James found out, he would make fun of him for. He didn't want to cry. If he cried then he would prove James right. He would prove that it was nothing. That he would never be anything more than a coward because someone who wasn't wouldn't let someone say that to him.
But Albus did and he always would. All because he didn't want people to hate him more. All because he thought that maybe, just maybe, if he didn't fight back against James, then he wouldn't hate him anymore. That was all he had to do. Remain the same kid he was and then James will still like him