At first glance, the hall appeared to be completely deserted, aside from a large spider, a lone black speck in a shiny web about halfway down. Nothing was in any of the paintings, which, to Albus, was a bit strange. Nonetheless, he was happy to finally be alone..
Hogwarts was a huge school with only so many students, wizards and witches. But if you add in the ghosts, paintings, and a few other mythical things, you get the "Hogwart's magic", so Albus called what bothered him so much about the school. It was overcrowded. He didn't like the lack of privacy. He felt claustrophobic being around even one person for too long at Hogwarts. He simply couldn't explain it. Going to Hogwarts was supposed to be exciting!
It was close to what his father had told him it was, minus the threat of Voldemort. Portraits of Albus and Severus taunted his shyness, so he avoided them as much as possible. He was nothing like his father.
He had taken a single step when a voice rang out.
"Albus Severus Potter! What a clever name. An old headmaster, a double agent, and the last name of the killer of Voldemort. It's shameful how he cowers in empty dark corridors with the lonely company of spiders."
Albus didn't need to turn his head to know Severus Snape was peering down at him with that curious expression he always looked at him with. "I'd like to be called Albus, please," he said quietly. After a moment of silence, he thought that he hadn't been heard. He went to speak again.
"I know what you said, though I couldn't hear your mouse squeak," Severus snarled. Albus twitched involuntarily. He was too sensitive, and he knew it. He cowered within himself, hearing nothing of what Snape was blabbering about, and started walking fast down the hall, turning towards the bathroom.
"What an odd child," Severus whispered.